Nanaimo’s Great International World Championship Bathtub Race crowns competitor who went worst

Nanaimo’s Great International World Championship Bathtub Race crowns competitor who went worst-to-first

Published 11:00 am Monday, July 27, 2026

A man went from worst to first to win the Great International World Championship Bathtub Race.

Jack Schlitz, who commanded his bathtub which was assigned to the number 805, finished first place with the time of about 1:24:00 during the event, held in Nanaimo on Sunday, July 26.

Second place went to Justin Lofstrom, of bathtub number 340, who had finished with the time of about 1:34:00, while third place went to Brandon Leigh of bathtub number 555, who had finished with the time of about 1:36:00.

Schlitz says he began to compete last year, in which he finished dead last with the time of about 2:58:00. Winning the race is something Schlitz said feels “pretty good.”

“Growing up watching my dad and my uncle race, made me want to get into racing, keep the family tradition going,” Schlitz said.

The Great International World Championship Bathtub Race that Schlitz had won began at 11 a.m. Bathtub racers had to be at Gallows Point by 11:30 a.m., and then get to Entrance Island by 12 p.m., Winchelsea Island by 1 p.m., and then Neck Point by 2 p.m. The boats all had to finish at the beach right next to Swy-A-Lana Lagoon, and then ring the bell.

Greg Peacock, Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society commodore, extended his congratulations to Schlitz.

“These guys, they work so hard, all winter and then certainly through the spring, and then in this last 45 days or so, rebuilding motors, fine tuning them, fixing the fibre-glass stuff, cause even when you are out practising your break stuff, so it’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of commitment, but as importantly, this is all about family,” Peacock explained.

Racing in bathtubs is something Peacock called “brutal.”

“When these guys come out of the water, to run up and ring the bell, they’re wobbly, they’re limping, they hurt, some of those guys will be limping for a week or two after the fact, you’re crunched up in a little bathtub, getting banged around all the way up to Winchelsea and back into Nanaimo Harbour, so, it’s hard on your body,” Peacock added.

Parliamentary certificates were presented by Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Tamara Kronis to the Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society. According to Peacock, Kronis asked them who in the community they felt should be recognized as contributors.

“We selected a number of the people that really kinda go the extra mile to help the society throughout the year and for many years as well,” Peacock explained.

One person selected, Peacock said, is Wendy Johnston, secretary treasurer of the society.

Next year will be the 60th edition of the bathtub race, however as of yet, Peacock will not give away what plans the bathtub society has.

– Files from Karl Yu, News Bulletin.

misha.mustaqeem@nanaimobulletin.com