Bart's Bash Race 2018

16th September 2018 saw Tankerton Bay Sailing Club take part for the third year running in the largest sailing race in the world, 'Bart's Bash'.

This international charity race is organised by the Andrew Simpson Foundation (ASF) in memory of Andrew (Bart) Simpson, a double Olympic medallist who tragically lost his life whilst training for the America’s Cup in 2013. This is the fifth year the race has been run since the first in 2014. The ASF uses this event, alongside being a memorial, for an annual fundraising and participation campaign to allow them to achieve their charitable aims each year. The ASF are dedicated to increasing participation and improving lives through sailing: more information can be found at www.bartsbash.com

With winds gusting up to 18 knots on a sunny Sunday afternoon, 16 boats with 22 sailors on board took to the water in Tankerton Bay for an enjoyable hour of close, all in, handicapped racing. The fleet was made up of a variety of catamarans and monohulls with helms and crews of all abilities and experience. For some of the cadets taking part this was their first race competing with adult sailors: all seemed to take it in their stride, emerging from the race with big grins on their faces. A few of the faster boats completed 6 laps of the 2 mile course set by the race officer for the day, Tony Line, while slower boats completed 2 or more.The one retirement from the race was due to a boom fitting breakage.

£200 was raised on the day with donations from sailors competing, TBSC for each pint of beer sold, the selling of cans of beer donated by Andrew Kelly and from a game of 'guess the distance' of one lap of the race course in metres, which was 3219m, the closest being Jill Goodrum who donated her winnings to the good cause.

The timings and distances have now been added to the Barts Bash website; go to www.bartsbash.com to see how the Tankerton Bay sailors rank in the world wide race.

The committee would like to thank everyone that took part in the race, made donations and all those that helped with the running of the event, manning the tower, bar and support boats, making it an enjoyable and fun day.