The first Sanctioned Bathtub race took place in 1969, two years after the inaugural Bathtub race in Nanaimo in 1967. The Kelowna Regatta, which was a well established event, who wanted to expand their water based activities had heard of the new sport of Bathtub racing that took place in Nanaimo. Their Chairman of water events approached the Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society (LNBS) organizers of the "Great" INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BATHTUB RACE and inquired about putting on and hosting a Bathtub race during their regatta. After discussions with the LNBS they agreed to adopt the International Bathtub Racing rules for their race. The Tubbers that had participated in the "Great" Race in July were invited and they scheduled their first Bathtub race on Friday August 8th at 2:00 PM. It was held on the lake adjacent to the Kelowna City Park and was a 30 mile course and was sponsored by Simpson Sears and was very successful. So from the inaugural Bathtub race held in Nanaimo the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" the LNBS were lobbied by tubbers to organize and sanction a series of Bathtub races in other communities. The mandate of the LNBS at that time was to publicize the sport of Bathtub racing which would in turn encourage new tub entrants for the "Great" Race. Seeing the value in more races the LNBS formed the Sanctioned Bathtub Racing Commission within the organization to administer this new function. The Sanctioning Commission then took on the task and created the World Cup Sanctioned Bathtub Racing (WCSBR) series.

This new series consisted of a number of races throughout Alberta, British Columbia and Washington State. Communities with suitable water venues that were celebrating special events or civic holidays through the summer were encouraged to contact the LNBS and apply for a Sanctioned Bathtub race, and for a fee, the LNBS would sanction a Bathtub race to be part of their particular community festival. The guidelines, rules and regulations would be laid out by the LNBS Sanctioning Commission and the community group or promoter would stage the race under these guidelines with assistance from the parent body. A points system was developed similar to auto racing and each year the top finisher as well as second and third in two separate classes (Modified and Stock) are presented trophies at the year end "Plug Puller" party in Nanaimo. The WhChShBhR circuit grew to 14 races in 1982. As all the members of the LNBS are volunteers the series has been limited and now the Commission only sanctions races in BC and Washington state but still assists wherever possible with the supplying of information for other area to organize Bathtub races. Races are presently held in the Yukon and Ontario with guidelines and International Bathtub Race rules being used where possible. The season runs from June through to September. The number of sanctioned tubs varies from year to year as do the number of races. The communities of Victoria and Bremerton, Washington have hosted the Sanctioned Races for over 25 years.

1. To qualify for World Cup Championship points. Tubber, Tub Owners or Tub sponsors must make application to the LNBS Sanctioning commission for a registered number. This number will be a perpetual number, renewable every three years at a cost of $25.00 and it is exclusive to the Tub to whom it is issued. The LNBS reserves the right to cancel a registration number if the registration fee is not paid.
2. Tubbers may build more than one Tub to carry the same registered number but under no circumstances may more than one Tub with that number be entered in the same race.
3. To qualify for World Championship points, the official number must have been allocated and place on the Tub before the race.
4. Registered numbers will consist of 3 numbers and will be issued on a first come basis. with the only exception being a radio station or at the discretion of the Sanctioning Commission for a special event. No more than four figures will be allowed.
5. Tub drivers must be 14 years of age or older by the 1st of June in the year that the race is held and all tub drivers must meet whatever licensing is in effect for on water activities in that province or state.
6. The annual World Cup series of races will begin with the first race of each calendar year and end with the final race of the same year.
7. The perpetual trophy for the World Cup Championship shall be the Nanaimo Daily News World Cup and will be awarded annually to the Tub which gains the most points during the championship series. There will also be a trophy for the championship runner-up as well as for the third place Tub in the overall championship. Trophies will be presented to stock class as well.

The following are race organization guidelines including details for the World Cup Points system and trophies. The LNBS recommends that all race organizers and Tubbers become conversant with these guidelines, which are now separated from the official International Rues and will be regarded as coming under the overall "spirit and intent" clause of the General Rules.

1. Organizers must arrange for a mandatory drivers' meeting one hour before the official race start time, at which a roll call of Tub pilots will be held. Any driver not attending this meeting shall be excluded from the race and will forfeit hi/her entry fee. Tubbers must register at least 15 minutes before the drivers' meeting.
2. Prior to the official start which shall be by a pace boat, the race organizers will use a 5 (five) minute red flag and 1 (one) minute white flag which shall be supplied by the LNBS. In addition, flares may be used to ensure spectator awareness of the star of the race.
3. Any tub that makes a false start must turn off the course and return to a point behind the official start line. Any Tub that makes a false start and interferes with the other Tubs will be automatically disqualified.
4. It is the responsibility of the race organizers to provide sufficient safety/picket boats to ensure the safety of all Tubbers and the efficient administration of the race rules. There should be a minimum of 1 safety boat for every 5 boats in the race.
5. All such Safety/Picket boats must be equipped with radios and must be on the same frequency, so that contact between the boats and shore is maintained in case of such incidents and Race Control notifies that the driver is safe. This will ensure that all drivers are accounted for at the end of the race.
6. In lap racing there should be a picket boat at each corner. Any Tubber in the water should be removed from the danger area immediately.
7. Each corner boat should fly a red flag. If there is a Tubber in the water, a yellow flag should be waved and if the race is stopped a black flag should be waved.
8. Where a finish line involves a beach landing to ring the bell all Tubs must come to rest with the propeller still in the water, Any infringement of this rule will mean immediate disqualification.
9. Race organizers must cordon off and clearly mark the entire finish line chute on the beach and shall provide sufficient people to handle the Tubs and pull them ashore when the pilot jumps out. No spectators will be allowed inside the roped off area.
10. Organizers must provide adequate space for the teching compound area and this should be a separate roped off area. No tubbers or crew members may enter the teching compound, except to remove the propeller, spacers and nuts or at the invitation of the teching crew.
11. Organizers should allow one hour after the end of the race for the Trophy presentations.
12. When a Tubber has finished the race, either by ringing the bell or crossing the finish line if it is a water finish, he/she may not return to the race course to make up for any missed marker or turns. If a Tubber misses a marker or a turn during the race he/she may turn off the course when it is safe to do so and go around the marker correctly thus covering the course correctly. Note: It is the Tub pilots responsibility to do his/her own lap counting in any race.
13. All protests in connection with the race must be lodged in writing with the race officials, with a deposit of $150 (Canadian) within one hour of the official declaration that the race is over. When a protest has been officially lodged, a final decision shall be announced as soon as possible after protest has been received. The decisions of the race officials are final.

1st Place 50 points
2nd Place 48 points
3rd Place 46 points
4th Place 44 points
5th Place 42 points
6th Place 40 points
7th Place 38 points
8th Place 36 points
9th Place 34 points
10th Place 32 points
Placing continuing down to 10 points

NOTE: If a Bathtub entered the race and did not finish (DNF) he is awarded 10 points.

Tubbers are allowed to drop one race during the year


The official race flags to be used at all race will be:

• Red: On all turn or marker vessels
• Yellow: Caution flag will be on all turn or marker vessels, and when waved will indicate that a Tub has either stopped or flipped on the course.
• Black: Stop racing. This flag will be on all turn or marker boats. Go directly to the beach when the flag is waved.
• Red: When held up either on the beach or on the pace boat there are five minutes to the start of the race.
• White: When held up either on the beach or on the pace boat, there is one minute to the start of the race.