Peter Wright represented Fairlie Yacht Club at the Bart’s Bash Committee meeting at Royal Gourock Yacht Club this evening, 11th Sept., and reports below;
It was with a heavy heart that the Committee decided to abandon its further participation in the race, having taken into account the literature published on the Barts Bash website.
We have only just received this literature and the requirements for the race contain some surprising caveats that make the race difficult to run.
Our understanding had been that we would run an interclub race on a simple course and have an additional peripheral cruising in company course.
The reality is that the clubs are required to operate individually, and a requirement of a minimum 25 entries for each club to qualify for a Barts Bash entry is looking very difficult to achieve, as to date we have only received 6 entries for Royal Gourock Yacht Club alone.
The chance of raising 25 entries from any of the other keelboat clubs is very small.
We would also require "witnesses" and "stewards" who would also need to come from without the sailing community, along with extensive requirements for filming and photographic records.
The time of year has many of the day boats being winterized and the likelihood of poor weather in the autumnal equinox threatens attendance of larger competitors.
Whilst we have pulled back from organising the race, the committee felt that it is very important to follow the ethos of Bart’s Bash, and we ask that donations be made in lieu of race fees through the Just Giving website to support the charity in its aims and aspirations which we fully endorse.
"The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation transforms the lives of young people through sailing. Everything we do is driven by our belief that all young people have the ability to excel - through sailing we provide opportunities to grow, achieve and inspire excellence.
Inspired by Olympic Gold and Silver medallist Andrew 'Bart' Simpson, and founded by Sir Ben Ainslie CBE, Iain Percy OBE and Andrew's wife Leah, the Foundation helps young people to develop the personal skills to succeed in life and improves access to jobs and careers within the maritime sector.
Our activity principally focuses on young people between the age of 5 and 24 and we aim to combine invaluable time spent on water alongside providing life changing inspiration and encouragement.
The Foundation's activities include a number of major projects : Bart's Bash, the Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre, our Ambassador programme and our developing International program. The Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre is a sailing school at the London 2012 Olympic venue in Weymouth and Portland that was opened on 9 May 2014 and is used both to provide sailing opportunities for young people and to support our charitable activities."
The Barts Bash website can be found at:
http://beta.bartsbash.co.uk/andrew-simpson-sailing-foundation
It was with a heavy heart that the Committee decided to abandon its further participation in the race, having taken into account the literature published on the Barts Bash website.
We have only just received this literature and the requirements for the race contain some surprising caveats that make the race difficult to run.
Our understanding had been that we would run an interclub race on a simple course and have an additional peripheral cruising in company course.
The reality is that the clubs are required to operate individually, and a requirement of a minimum 25 entries for each club to qualify for a Barts Bash entry is looking very difficult to achieve, as to date we have only received 6 entries for Royal Gourock Yacht Club alone.
The chance of raising 25 entries from any of the other keelboat clubs is very small.
We would also require "witnesses" and "stewards" who would also need to come from without the sailing community, along with extensive requirements for filming and photographic records.
The time of year has many of the day boats being winterized and the likelihood of poor weather in the autumnal equinox threatens attendance of larger competitors.
Whilst we have pulled back from organising the race, the committee felt that it is very important to follow the ethos of Bart’s Bash, and we ask that donations be made in lieu of race fees through the Just Giving website to support the charity in its aims and aspirations which we fully endorse.
"The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation transforms the lives of young people through sailing. Everything we do is driven by our belief that all young people have the ability to excel - through sailing we provide opportunities to grow, achieve and inspire excellence.
Inspired by Olympic Gold and Silver medallist Andrew 'Bart' Simpson, and founded by Sir Ben Ainslie CBE, Iain Percy OBE and Andrew's wife Leah, the Foundation helps young people to develop the personal skills to succeed in life and improves access to jobs and careers within the maritime sector.
Our activity principally focuses on young people between the age of 5 and 24 and we aim to combine invaluable time spent on water alongside providing life changing inspiration and encouragement.
The Foundation's activities include a number of major projects : Bart's Bash, the Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre, our Ambassador programme and our developing International program. The Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre is a sailing school at the London 2012 Olympic venue in Weymouth and Portland that was opened on 9 May 2014 and is used both to provide sailing opportunities for young people and to support our charitable activities."
The Barts Bash website can be found at:
http://beta.bartsbash.co.uk/andrew-simpson-sailing-foundation
