Hundreds of sailing clubs sign up for Bart's Bash ( World Record !! )

A total of 129 sailing clubs have already signed up for a Guinness World Record attempt in memory of Olympic and America's Cup sailor Andrew Simpson. And interest continues to grow for 'Bart's Bash', which aims to get thousands of sailors racing at hundreds of locations across the world simultaneously on 21 September 2014 at 11am (BST). The original plan was for the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation (ASSF) event to be 'the largest dinghy sailing race in the world ever' but after organisers were inundated by requests from yacht clubs wishing to take part, the event has been expanded to encompass yachts and multihulls. Event spokesman Jez Payne said: 'ASSF Bart's Bash is now set to be a world first event - embracing the concept of sailors racing each other from clubs across the country, racing across continents and racing across the categories of boats; from dinghies to yachts to multihulls. 'We will be investigating the Guinness Records for the largest yachting events, the UK Round the Island hits 30,000 sailors, we will have to re-set the target probably above 50,000, five times the original goal.' Loch Tummel Sailing Club in the Scottish Highlands was the 100th club to sign up to the event, just five days after it was launched on 17 December. A spokesman for the club said 'Loch Tummel SC is very proud to be involved with the ASSF Bart's Bash and we look forward to getting as many boats out on our beautiful loch as possible. 'We will have participants ranging from the young sailors in their Oppies to their grandparents in their Flying Fifteens and Yeomans taking part and are really looking forward to doing our bit to break the record.' Double Olympic medallist Andrew Simpson, who was nicknamed 'Bart', tragically died aged 36 in May 2013 while training for the 34th Americas Cup. All proceeds from Bart's Bash will go to the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, a charity set up in his memory to encourage youngsters into sailing. How to take part Greater details about Bart's Bash will be announced on 1 February. For a full list of participating clubs visit www.bartsbash.co.uk To sign your club up, email tim@bartsbash.co.uk