HUNDREDS of spectators gathered to watch a whacky contest that was guaranteed to cause a splash.

Onlookers lined the sides of Lymington’s famous seawater baths to watch crews battle it out in the annual bath race staged by Lymington Town Sailing Club.

Competitors were given the choice of taking their own or borrowing one from the club.

After getting expert advice from a team of “crack bath builders” the crews competed for the honour of going home with the Golden Bath trophy awarded to the overall winner.

Crews with little or no hope of capturing the top prize could still compete in other categories such as best design and best fancy dress.

Dubbed the funniest event on water, the race always provides plenty of thrills and spills.

All the baths are given a safety inspection prior to launching and crews have to abide by strict set of regulations, with each competitor required to wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid.

Every craft has to be based on a conventional bath or shower tray and a “no engines” rule meant all propulsion had to be muscle-powered.