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

Largest Dinghy Gathering Ever - World record attempt

The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, founded by Sir Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy and family members to encourage youngsters into sailing, is planning a monster sized attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for 'The Largest Dinghy Sailing Race' in the World Ever, which they are calling 'Bart's Bash'! The idea is to have a mass participation club race simultaneously across Britain. Pretty much every club in the country has a race on Sunday morning, with all kinds of boats taking part, the goal is to get everyone participating together to create one big race. The goal is to get over 200 clubs taking part, with over 10,000 sailors on the water, they will become new Guinness World Record Holders for dinghy racing in Andrew 'Bart' Simpson's name. Jez Payne from 'The Bart Project' commented 'It is one of those ideas that has huge potential to be a major, major event that absolutely honours the core of what Andrew was about'. British sailors who are the 'right person to sign their club up' are invited to email tim@bartsbash.co.uk. An event briefing for clubs & competitors is going to be launched on the first of February and there will be further dates for the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions. 'Bart's Bash' will be on Sunday 21st September, 2014, so there's plenty of time to plan. To get more details, go to the website: http://www.bartsbash.co.uk/

Brave Teenager Is Sailing To Hobart For The First Time - Without Her Wheelchair

While the conditions will be challenging, the 16-member crew of the 16-metre Lyons 54 faceboat Sailors with disABILITIES should be up for the challenge, having previously survived and won the 1998 race, the toughest yet. On board the boat in her first Hobart is Grace Kennedy, 19, who has spina bifida and is normally in a wheelchair. She left it behind this morning as she climbed about the boat, skippered by Kirk Watson, who is legally blind and competing in his 9th race. Sailors with disABILITIES (SWD) was founded by David Pescud to help disabled and disadvantaged young people and they’ve competed in 16 Rolex Sydney to Hobart races. faceboat Sailors with disABILITIES is already showing its ability as one of the first 20 boats out Sydney Heads and currently leads its division. SWD is still ‘seeking sponsorship for the boat’, which costs just $25, tax deductible, and donors will have their photo on the hull of the yacht for 12 months. Business Insider will continue to monitor and report the progress of faceboat Sailors with disABILITIES as she races to Hobart.

Portsmouth host special Christmas race today !!

Portsmouth Sailing Club are holding a one-of-its-kind event as they host a boat race on Christmas Day in aid of the RNLI. Today, the sailing club have been granted special permission to race from the entrance of the harbour as Christmas Day is the only day when the Royal Navy do not use this entrance nor is it used for commercial shipping. One of the boats involved in the Christmas Credit: Portsmouth Sailing Club The event has previously attracted high profile participants such as Sir Robin Knox-Johnston among other willing competitors. The event is open to all types of boats there is expected to be lots of fancy dress.

From oars and lakes to rudders and seas

Australia’s Sarah Cook is no stranger to international competition and racing on the water in pursuit of Olympic dreams. Cook, who spent ten years in the Australian Rowing Team, has swapped 2,000 metre dashes in a boat of eight to sailing up and downwind in the Women’s Two Person Dinghy, the 470. The tall 28-year-old recently celebrated her one year sailing anniversary but her physique immediately caught the eye of one Australian sailing hero who saw a match made in heaven, 'I met Elise Rechichi, my helm, back in London at a sushi train of all places at the London airport when we were leaving the Olympics,' commented Cook. 'I’d just competed in the women’s eight for Australia and met Elise randomly. It just so happened that she was a after a new crew and apparently when I stood up she said it was love at first sight. For her having a tall crew is the most important thing and there I was.' Rechichi had a fresh slate with Cook who entered the sport for the first time in an Olympic event, 'I’d never sailed, I literally did a learn to sail course last September and got into the 470 for the first time in October. It’s been a very steep learning curve. It was nine months in the boat by the time we got to the Worlds in La Rochelle. We learnt a lot in those nine months but we were really happy with how our international season ended up.' Cook knows what it takes to become an Olympian. Ten years of hard work and dedication resulted in her representing Australia at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games. Both Olympic sports require certain physical and mental aspects and Cook has enjoyed the transition, 'It’s so different to compare the two sports,' she said. 'I’ve literally transformed myself I feel from one kind of athlete that you have to be for rowing to a sport that’s so highly technical and tactical. There’s just so much to know not only on your tasks and what you’re doing in the boat but then in terms of strategy and fleet racing on top of that.' Rio 2016 is firmly in sight for Cook but she doesn’t plan on making any more changes for Tokyo 2020, 'I’m definitely going to stick with the sailing,' she added. 'I’m loving the sport and I think a big part of that is having a change and learning something new. It’s such a great opportunity for me to have the challenge of transforming the kind of athlete I am from a rower which is one end of the spectrum to a sailor at the other.' At ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne Cook is competing with 2013 ISAF Youth Worlds 420 gold medallist Carrie Smith after Rechichi pulled out on medical grounds. The duo got off to a wonderful start, taking the lead on the opening day but have slipped to fourth with only the Women’s 470 Medal Race to go. Cook concluded, 'We only had one sail together before this regatta and Carrie has come from 420s so it’s a big challenge for us to connect as a team but for her to learn to sail the 470 as well. 'She’s doing an amazing job. We’ve had some good races and some not so good races but all in all we’re enjoying this week.'

Blind sailor leading the way in SydHob

A blind skipper in this year's Sydney to Hobart doesn't consider his condition a problem, with plenty of eyes to help him. Kirk Watson, who suffers from the degenerative disease Retinitis Pigmentosa, will be the leader aboard Sailors with disABILITIES in this month's race. "Kirk's leadership is inspirational, this will be an empowering journey for him and the whole crew," said Malcolm Turnbull, the Federal Communications Minister and patron of the group. Watson started offshore racing in his early 20 when his vision was already being affected by the disease Retinitis Pigmentosa. He can see when the sun is bright but has no effective vision and is legally blind. Soon to embark on his ninth Sydney to Hobart, 40-year-old Watson stressed his impaired vision was no obstacle to him sailing and and didn't represent a hazard to him or his crew. "There's always a few other people on the boat, so if there's something I need to see they let me know," Watson told AAP. He will stick primarily to his established role as a mainsail trimmer in addition to the extra decision making entailed by being the skipper. "I'll still be trimming the sail. Just because you're the skipper doesn't mean you steer the boat," Watson said. "I can steer a boat, I have steered a boat. "It comes down more to the fact there are far better steerers than me (on the boat), so I'm happy for them to steer the boat." He emphasised sailing was a sport that didn't just rely on vision and that feel was also an important aspect. "Sailing isn't all about being able to see a sail, there's so much more to it than that," Watson said. "There's also the technical side of trimming, and you've got your overall strategy. "How are you going to sail against your opposition? There's a lot of in the head stuff you do as well." Watson has sailed in the Sydney to Hobart on eight previous occasions, finishing five times. Showcasing the abilities of sailors suffering from a range of disabilities, the SWD program has a proud history in the race, contesting most years since its 1994 debut. In 2013, it has gone back to the 54-foot boat in which it won the PHS division of the Sydney to Hobart in 2007, after contesting more recent races in a TP52.

Lottery grant expands fleet

A grant from the Big Lottery Fund has boosted the fleet that enables disabled people to go sailing at Lackford Lakes. The grant has allowed West Anglia, Suffolk and Haverhill (WASH) Sailability to spend £7,978 on a specially adapted sailing boat and ancillary equipment, bringing its fleet to five vessels. The new boat, named Erica after the club’s first chairman Eric Bratt, was handed over at the club’s annual meeting on Saturday. Alan Turvey, from Wash Sailability, said: “The boats are specially designed with safety in mind, are very stable even in windy conditions and are suitable for both adults and children.” Sailability clubs worldwide offer sailing facilities and training to people with any form of disability, whether they want to sit in a boat or sail it themselves. WASH began in 2009 with a request from the Haverhill Association of Voluntary Organisations to Lackford-based St Edmundsbury Sailing and Canoeing Association. For details call 01284 769101 or visit WASH’s website

LEICESTERSHIRE SAILING INSTRUCTOR WINS BBC UNSUNG HERO AWARD

Nearly 50 years of volunteering has been rewarded after 71-year-old Colin Magee of Burbage, Leicestershire won the title of BBC East Midlands Today Sports Unsung Hero 2013. Colin has got thousands of young people into sailing, breaking down the idea that it’s only a sport for the well off. Colin was given the award at a surprise presentation on Tuesday morning and was reduced to tears. “I am absolutely overwhelmed. It is just something I do. I get people on the water. It is something I can share. And if I can get just one young person off the streets and away from trouble than I have done something.” He is the driving force behind the Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Team, running courses for schools and youth groups and entering teams into Regattas. Colin is also a key figure in fund raising activities, making sure there are boats available for use and suitable sailing clothing. He charges no membership fee and offers free instruction. When he’s not on the water, he’s maintaining boats to the highest possible standard. The award organiser, Mark Shardlow of BBC East Midlands, said: “Colin is a fantastic example of someone who has given time and effort to help others play sport. He has clearly had a major impact on sport in the East Midlands. The judging panel were particularly impressed that he’s recruited so many volunteers to act as coaches, judges and committee members to ensure the club has a legacy.” Graham Chilvers, from Hinckley and Bosworth District Counil, nominated Colin. He said: “In Colin’s eyes everyone can have fun sailing. He has a singular ability to motivate and inspire. He is a very special man.” Colin now moves on to the national final. The results will be revealed at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award on Sunday 15th December live on BBC One.

Sailing taster day for 100 disabled people

A SAILING school owner has described a taster day which gave 100 disabled people the opportunity to get on the water as a ‘fulfilling and humbling experience.’ Even before the open day at Mylor Sailing School began on Saturday, owner Tracey Boyne said she was “overwhelmed” by the demand for places across the five workshops. ​ Now she is even more determined to take her project to the next stage and secure enough funding to set up a social enterprise which will make the pleasure of learning to sail a reality for disabled people across the county. “The idea for this open day was to find out the demand for a disabled sailing school,” said Miss Boyne, from the sailing school near Falmouth. “You can’t apply for funding until you can prove demand and we have been completely overwhelmed.” One of the main attractions was the chance to be taught by John Robertson, who has represented Team GB at three Paralympic games. The volunteers and instructors, including Mr Robertson, took out three large sailing dinghies and three powerboats in each of the taster workshops. During the open day, staff gathered information to see how many of them wanted to learn to sail on a regular basis in the future. “It was a really great response,” said Miss Boyne. “The day went smoothly, but it was just not what I expected, to get that many people there and for so many people wanting to do it. “It was very fulfilling. I was pretty choked up watching them all go out on the water, and to hear some of them coming back saying how it was the best thing they had ever done. “I also had some tear jerking emails after the day saying they can’t wait for the club to get going. It was very humbling.” Miss Boyne’s next step is to apply for funding to meet her target of getting the new school, the Mylor Sailability Group, up and running by March. “Sport England has just opened up new streams of funding for disabled support,” she said. “We are going to apply for those.” “We have already been offered funding from the West Cornwall Youth Trust (WCYT) and Cornwall Sports Partnership (CSP). “But the big funding from Sport England will take a bit longer.” Miss Boyne stresses that a project like this is not possible without help. On the open day she had 15 volunteers , support from CSP’s Steve Hillman, WCYT’s Nick Fletcher and Roger Graffy, owner of Mylor Yacht Harbour, whose help was “never ending.” “And John Robertson has just been such a great inspiration for disabled people,” she said. People as far afield as Penzance and Bodmin came to Mylor on Saturday. Apart from Stithians Lake, there is nowhere else in Cornwall which offers disabled sailing instruction.

Volvo Ocean Race: All-female crew 'not proving a point'

Sam Davies, the woman leading the first all-female crew to take part in the Volvo Ocean Race in 12 years, says they have nothing to prove ahead of their departure for 12 months of training. Team SCA leave for a year's worth of training in Lanzarote ahead of the round-the-world sailing race. "I don't think we're out there to prove a point," Davies, leader of the seven-strong team, told BBC South Today. One of Davies's grandfathers was a submarine commander, while the other was a powerboat racer pilot When she was 23, she attempted the Jules Verne round-the-world race with an all-female crew but lost her mast near Cape Horn She finished fourth in the Vendee Globe in 2009, completing the journey in 94 days, four hours and 39 minutes "For those of us out there it's just a race and we're there on equal grounds." She continued: "We just want to do the best we can. Once we are racing we don't even think about being an all-girl racing team - we just want to try and get on the podium. "As an all-female crew it's an opportunity to go out and perform. "Volvo Ocean Race have made the rules better for us so as an all-female crew we can take more crew members and that will make the racing a little bit fairer, because physically it's very hard. "So we should be able to go out there and sail the boat as well as a male crew." The race begins in Alicante on 4 October 2014 and Davies will be joined by Abby Ehler, Stacey Jackson, Annie Lush, Liz Wardley, ​Carolijn Brouwer and Sophie Ciszek. Davies, who has competed in two Vendee Globe races, is aware just how big a challenge it is for her and her team-mates, and admits the next year of training in Lanzarote will be crucial to their chances of success. "This next 12 months will be a big learning curve," said Davies. "All the boats are identical so it means it's the sailor and the crew that makes the difference. Every hour counts when we prepare for this. "Individually, we have a lot of experience but as a crew we don't so we have a lot of work to do to learn how to sail this boat. "We are based in Lanzarote because it's the perfect place to train. The wind is always around 25 knots, so it is tough conditions pretty much all of the time but perfect for training. "It's on an island, so within five minutes we are out in the ocean. The climate helps, we don't stop for training and having the wind and the water a little bit warmer means we can train for longer." Having competed in two Vendee Globes, Davies is used to isolation while sailing so admits it will be nice to return to being part of a team. "For me it's quite different," she said. "It's really nice. I started in all-female crew so it's nice to get back to that. It's not so much a psychological or mental challenge, but more a physical one. It's great to be back with some amazing sailors, Olympic medallists and we are learning so much together." Davies will be leaving behind her two-year-old son, but says the chance to compete in the nine-month race, which is held every three years, was too big an opportunity to turn down. "It is a big commitment," she admitted. "But it's such a big opportunity to do the Volvo Ocean Race so leaving home and missing the family is a sacrifice that is part of this opportunity and we are lucky enough to have great support around us.

Lord Nelson takes part in international fleet review

Lord Nelson, owned by Southampton-based charity, the Jubilee Sailing Trust, represented the nation’s tall ship fleet at the Royal Australian Navy International Fleet Review in Sydney Harbour yesterday. The invitation to take part in this weekend’s centenary celebrations for the Royal Australian Navy, attended by HRH Prince Harry, was the catalyst for the ship’s current 50,000-mile, two-year global voyage. Lord Nelson is one of only two ships in the world that are built to be fully accessible and is sailed by physically disabled and able bodied crew members as equals. The 55-metre square rigger is undertaking the first ever circumnavigation by such a vessel, the Norton Rose Fulbright Sail the World Challenge, which aims to promote inclusion and equality in each of the 30 ports of call. 'This is a truly exciting initiative which brings together people from all walks of life and all physical abilities to sail side by side across the world’s oceans on this extraordinary ship,' said Norton Rose Fulbright , Australia’s Managing Partner, Wayne Spanner. So far more than 500 people from 25 countries, approximately half of whom are physically disabled and include 54 wheelchair users, have taken part in the journey, which set off from Southampton, UK, in October 2012, riding the wave of the success of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Lord Nelson is carrying one of the London 2012 Paralympic torches and a number of international Paralympians, including Sydney 2000 Gold Medallist, Michael McLean, have sailed on board Lord Nelson. Among those on board for the voyage arriving in Sydney this week was a contingent of Australian Defence Force personnel, as well as representatives of Help For Heroes, the UK charity which works to rehabilitate injured service personnel. Lord Nelson will take part in the International Tall Ships race from Sydney Harbour to Auckland, departing on 10 October, and will undertake four voyages in New Zealand waters before she sets sail on 15 December to cross the Southern Ocean and round the infamous Cape Horn. There are just a few spaces remaining on the voyage from Sydney to Auckland for those wishing to be part of the crew sailing into New Zealand waters with Lord Nelson for the first time. Berths are available for both able bodied and physically disabled people for the voyages in New Zealand. A ‘buddy’ system on board pairs able bodied and disabled crew to offer mutual help and support during the passage. The lower age limit is 16 and there is no upper age limit. No sailing experience is necessary as the permanent crew will give all the training and guidance needed to get the most out of the voyage, whether that is showing a crew member how to climb the rigging, steer the ship or haul on a rope to help set the sails. The ethos on board is to focus on what each person is capable of, rather than what they can’t do. Lord Nelson is due to return to the UK in September 2014.

A woman who has never sailed before is taking on the world’s longest ocean race.

A story of a badly injured sailor during an around-the-world-race is enough to turn most people off the high seas, but not Anne Jobbins, 43, from Sutton, who was inspired to take on the challenge after hearing such a story. Miss Jobbins normally works as a personal advisor at the Jobcentre in Sutton but on Monday she flew to Rio, in Brazil, to join her crew on a journey across the South Atlantic to Cape Town as part of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Asked why she decided to take on such a challenge Miss Jobbins said: "There was nothing to stop me really. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. I don’t like to say that’s the reason I’m doing it but that kind of experience does make you a different kind of person. "I do look at things a bit differently. I’m not in it for the challenge, don’t get me wrong it is a challenge but I’m really in it for the experience. It’s going to be absolutely awesome. "Before I started this I had never sailed before. I’d never been on a boat unless you count the ferry to France and I have only done that once. "The training they give you it really intense. You live on the boat for the week you are training." Miss Jobbins is not the only person from Sutton taking on the race, Fred Mundle, 67, from Carshalton Beeches is flying out to Rio on October 4 to join his crew. Retired consultant, Mr Mundle, has sailed before but not on a scale like this. He said: "On one of our training courses we had severe gale force winds of 10 or 11 so we are prepared for anything. You just don’t know what you are going to get."

Sir Keith Mills backs Sir Ben Ainslie

SIR KEITH MILLS is ready to set up a British America’s Cup team with Sir Ben Ainslie after Britain’s greatest sailor helped spark one of the biggest comebacks in sport. With billionaire Larry Ellison, owner of Ainslie’s victorious Oracle Team USA, promising to reduce costs to attract more teams, Mills wants to realise Ainslie’s dream of bringing the Auld Mug home for the first time since the inaugural race 162 years ago. “We could assemble an extraordinary, predominantly British team to go and win the cup,” said Mills, who played a leading role in organising the London Olympics. Ainslie said: “The America’s Cup started in the UK in 1851, we’ve never had it back since, so it’s about time we changed that.”