Bathtub Boat Race brings fun, friendly competition to Stockton in its 13th year

Hannah Workman, The Record
·2 min read
Robert Rust stayed true to the racing roots of the 13th Annual Bathtub Boat Race by participating in a clawfoot bathtub. The classic design earned Rust a 3rd place finish.
Robert Rust stayed true to the racing roots of the 13th Annual Bathtub Boat Race by participating in a clawfoot bathtub. The classic design earned Rust a 3rd place finish.

A crowd of about 80 Stocktonians gathered at Louis Park on Sunday to see what float — and what didn't float — at the 13th Annual Bathtub Boat Race.

The rules of the race were simple: Boats could have been made out of anything except the materials could not have been a boat previously or been part of a boat.

Justin Grant pedaled his way to 2nd place in this year's Bathtub Boat Race. The 13th annual event was pushed down the Delta from its usual launching spot, but diehards showed up to put on a show for friends and family.
Justin Grant pedaled his way to 2nd place in this year's Bathtub Boat Race. The 13th annual event was pushed down the Delta from its usual launching spot, but diehards showed up to put on a show for friends and family.

Six contestants hit the water in makeshift boats made of materials such as old bicycle frames, pool noodles and duct tape. Contestant Robert Rust even raced in an actual bathtub.

Marc Hubbard, a resident of the nearby Oak Park neighborhood, decided to bring his dog, Millie, to see the action. Hubbard said it was his second year watching the competition.

"It's pretty funny," Hubbard said, adding that event organizers try their best to put on a show for attendees.

Tim Jackson, who conceived and organized the race with friend Bob Wright in 2010, said he saw the race as an opportunity to bring entertainment to the community.

"I wanted something to do in Stockton," Jackson said. "There was no more boat racing. There were no activities on the water for people from our neighborhood."

Past events:

Jackson said he saw innovations at this year's competition that he hadn't seen in previous years.

"Someone actually brought a heavy, steel bathtub and he raced in it and he did well," Jackson said.

Roxy Looney of Stockton watched the race with her friend, Monica Breedlove, also of Stockton. The pair said they were friends of Jackson's.

"The saddest part of this year's race was that Tim Jackson didn't fall in the water," Looney said with a laugh. "He usually falls in."

Breedlove said she had gone to "three or four" bathtub races in the past, but this was her first year attending since the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to cancel the 2020 race.

"I'm happy to have it back. It's really fun," Breedlove said. "I hope people are inspired to come out (to next year's race) so there's more entries and more fun."

Addison Black takes his ride "3 Serpents" out on the water for a test drive. Addison and his father, Aaron, worked on their boat together in preparation for the 13th Annual Bathtub Boat Race at Louis Park.
Addison Black takes his ride "3 Serpents" out on the water for a test drive. Addison and his father, Aaron, worked on their boat together in preparation for the 13th Annual Bathtub Boat Race at Louis Park.

Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow. 

This article originally appeared on The Record: Annual Bathtub Boat Race brings fun, friendly competition to Stockton