There are some delightfully idiosyncratic festivals around the world. The World Tin Bath Championships in the scenic waters of Castletown Harbour in the Isle of Man can hold its own with the best of them.

I think the people smugglers in the English Channel are missing a trick and a good way to boost profits: 6 people in a chain of inner tubes can move through the water surprisingly quickly and look very merry in the process as they flail their arms in frenzied rowing. Likewise a tin bath can be unexpectedly stable and I am sure there are many of the old fashioned variety in plenty a French farmyard.

The best technique appears to move the body as little as possible whilst maintaining a vigorous rowing action. Even though there was a red No Entry sign with ‘border closed’ written across it, I was not actually on the coast of southern England, but rather in the scenic surrounds of Castletown Harbour in the Isle of Man for the annual Tin Bath Championships, the 49th running of the event.

On a suitably dismal August afternoon the spectators became as drenched as the participants. A jaunty flotilla of umbrellas echoed the boats in the harbour, rain dropping ceaselessly from their sides as people shielded their ice creams from the deluge. But an enjoyable afternoon was had by all once the obligatory big wig had declared the event officially open.

Inevitably the corona virus put in a brief appearance but was rapidly chased off the jetty, leaving the island to celebrate nearly 3 months without a case.

The inner tubes came out first for a ‘snake race’ and were then interspersed with the tin bath races. The line up was certainly a motley crew of men in dubiously feminine attire and women in fancy dress and they were heartily cheered as they made their way up the harbour and back again. I did wonder at the wisdom of shouting on the Ramsey Doggers though.

One old timer dispensed the sage advice: ‘Don’t worry if you don’t make it, the spectators prefer it if you sink! ‘ And indeed quite a number did, being fished out of the harbour by the gaily painted orange lifeboat.

It all had the rather mad atmosphere of a University rag week. The organisers go under the moniker of’ the Castletown Ale Drinkers’ and the £3 entry fee goes to charity. There was certainly plenty of the local ale being sampled in the strategically sited Glue Pot pub.

The Tin Bath Championships sit neatly in the annals of bizarre festivals – I am reminded of the ‘Henley on Todd’ regatta which takes place in the dry river bed of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia and with whom it could easily be twinned. Long may they all survive!