A global bash for disabled sailing

Sailors young and old are gearing up for the biggest global sailing event, Bart’s Bash, hosted by Point Yacht Club (PYC), Durban as one of the international venues on September 17.

Launched in 2014, this massive sailing event has had 45,091 sailors participate in over 60 countries with about 1,000 types of boat racing over the two years. The inaugural Bart’s Bash was awarded a Guinness World record for staging the largest race in 24 hours.

The focus this year is on raising awareness and funds to support disabled sailing globally after the decision was made to remove sailing from the Paralympics going forward from 2020. The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, however, will continue to promote the sport and all the benefits it brings to people of all abilities.

PYC commodore, Craig Millar said the Bart’s Bash ethos of using sailing to improve the lives of children and young people, is in line with the club’s goals.

“We work hard to encourage young people to actively get involved in our great sport and club. With the recent launch of our youth project, the PYC Watersports Academy, we love that Bart’s legacy is embracing youth, of all backgrounds and abilities,” said Millar.

Organised in honour of the late British Olympic sailor, Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, the event aims to get as many people out on the water for Bart’s Bash as possible.

Last year, at Bart’s Bash – The Second Sail, PYC featured six times on the Bashboard with various individual accolades. The club was also recognised with an impressive ninth worldwide, the top finishing South African yacht club, in the category of Biggest Fleets with 123 competitors.

Each race venue sets the course with the only specifications set by the race organisers, the course for Bart’s Bash needs to be over one kilometre with more than 15 minutes spent racing.

So far, the event has clocked up 281 venues over 42 countries with more than 1352 sailors signed up to participate.

For more info and to enter, visit www.bartsbash.com or www.pyc.co.za

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