Bart's Bash at Itchenor raises £750 for Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation

Ian & Emilia Walker sail in Bart's Bash at Itchenor © Mary Pudney

Bart's Bash was celebrated in style at Itchenor Sailing Club on Sunday 20th September. In sparkling Chichester Harbour conditions over 50 boats took part with competitors young and old in boats that represented the breadth of the racing classes at Itchenor Sailing Club; from classic keelboats, performance dinghies to Toppers and Mirrors.

A carnival atmosphere prevailed both on and off the water with many boats crewed by families. Andrew 'Bart' Simpson's friend and fellow Olympic medal winner, Ian Walker was on hand to share his memories of Bart and participated in the day's racing in a RS200 with his daughter Emilia. Ian's daughter Zoe also took part in a Topper demonstrating skills recently acquired in Itchenor's Junior Fortnight.

The start of the keelboat race provided spectators with some amusement as a number of competitors in this mixed fleet of XODs, Sunbeams and Swallows tangled at the pin end of the line. A number of boats were over the line and veteran Sunbeam sailor Alan Stannah experienced being up close and personal with the outer distance mark itself. Mike Wigmore and Club Commodore Charles Hyatt in Gwaihir were quick to extricate themselves from the melee and disappear into the middle distance for the race win. Two XODs took the other podium places – Chris Darling and Alastair Shaw sailing Phoenix just ahead of Roger Yeoman and Peter Robson in Xcitation.

The senior dinghy fleet saw a one two for International 14s with the crews of Neale Jones and Nigel Ash seeing off the challenge of Tom Heywood and Rob Brent. Robin Richardson and Rowan Smithson flew the flag for the RS800s in third place. The next seven places were filled by RS200s.

Mirrors filled the places at the top of the junior dinghy competition as Archie Grant and Sienna Pudney finished less than a minute ahead of Maddie Hantrais and Emilia House who were well ahead of third placed Oscar and Lucy Clifford Bowles.

The event was a huge success and saw over £750 raised for the Bart's Bash charity, the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, the charity set up in 2013 to honour the life and legacy of Andrew 'Bart' Simpson MBE, Olympic Gold & Silver medallist and America's Cup Sailor by using sailing to transform the lives of young people.

www.bartsbash.com