STORY: Revellers, friends and family rowed down the Meuse river in home-made bathtub rafts, decorated with a musical theme for an annual regatta in the Belgian city of Dinant on Saturday (August 15).

The unique race started in 1982 after a local shopkeeper heard on the radio that someone in Italy had gone down a river in a bathtub.

Michael Fiona, a 56-years old construction worker, was taking on a lot of water when he told Reuters that he was "not sure if that's supposed to happen."

Helene Aigret on the other hand was still sitting safe and sound on a stronger raft, but said she was planning to "splash around and have fun", as she and her family were participating for the 25th year.

The regatta takes the form of a race of one kilometre (0.6 miles) along the river and rafts have to incorporate at least one bathtub in their design.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: DINANT, BELGIUM (AUGUST 15, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. (MUTE) VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS SHOWING RAFTS PARTICIPATING IN BATHTUB REGATTA

2. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS ON BATHTUB RAFTS

3. (MUTE) DRONE SHOT SHOWING RAFTS AND PEOPLE ONLOOKING FROM THE BANK

4. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS ASSEMBLING RAFT USING BATHTUB, PLASTIC BARRELS, PLANKS AND ROPE

5. PARTICIPANTS TAKING THEIR RAFT TO THE RIVER

6. PARTICIPANTS LAUNCHING THEIR RAFT

7. PEOPLE ONLOOKING

8. PARTICIPANTS GETTING IN RAFT

9. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS ON RAFTS CONTAINING AT LEAST ONE BATHTUB

10. (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARTICIPANT, HELENE AIGRET, 25 YEARS OLD, WHO'S FAMILY HAS BEEN TAKING PART TO THE REGATTA SINCE 25 YEARS, SAYING:

"We're going to have fun, splash people, and enjoy the good weather because we're lucky, it's absolutely beautiful out. We're going to enjoy it with the family because here in our little pool, it's mainly family. There are a few friends as well, but it's mostly family. We're here to splash around and have fun."

11. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON RAFTS

12. PARTICIPANTS IN SINKING BATHTUB

13. (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARTICIPANT AND DINANT RESIDENT, MICHAEL FIONA, 56 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"We're from Dinant, so we know the bathtub regatta very well, for years already. We've been taking part since about 15 years and now is the first time that we assembled our own bathtub."

JOURNALIST: "It looks like you're taking on water."

"A bit too much, indeed. We're not sure if that's supposed to happen."

14. FIONA PADDLING AWAY

15. (MUTE) VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS SHOWING REGATTA