The Belgian city of Dinant last week saw the latest version of its International Bathtub Regatta, which sees wild and makeshift boats in a race down the Meuse River; this year’s race had ‘The Farm’ as a theme for boats.
It was the 41st edition of a tradition that began from an Italian news article. Julien Dolhet, chairman of the Les Baignoires, the non-profit that runs the race, told news that “It was a neighborhood committee that came up with the idea 41 years ago. They had heard on the radio that someone in Italy had crossed a river on a bathtub. So they said to themselves: ‘Come on, let’s do it!'”
The boats are all based on bathtubs, although that’s not always obvious under the decorations, which have grown extravagant. According to Dolhet, there are only two rules: “The baths must be in contact with the water and there must be no motor!”
