WEYMOUTH Sailing Club (WSC) is gearing up for Bart’s Bash this weekend, an event which is planned to be the largest sailing race in the world.

Tomorrow evening, the club will welcome Olympic gold medal winners Ian Percy and Paul Goodison from 6pm.

The Olympians will be promoting Bart’s Bash memorabilia and be presented with a cheque from the Yacht Clubs of Weymouth for the Andrew Simpson Found-ation.

Alongside this, they will be starting the conker competition to raise further funds for the Foundation.

Also on Saturday evening, which is open to members of the Yacht Clubs of Weymouth, there will be live music from 7pm, a hog roast, games and a raffle.

The event, which is being held in memory of Sherborne sailor Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, pictured, who tragically died in a training accident in San Francisco Bay while preparing for the America’s Cup competition, is sponsored by Knox Haven Insurance.

WSC along with Poole Yacht Racing Association, will compete on the gold medal course on Sunday, under the Nothe using the Olympic racing marks which were donated to WSC. The racing starts at 10.50am so the public can view the event from the Nothe Gardens, which will be a memorable sight, so do go along to watch and cheer on the participants.

Also taking to the water will be windsurfers from the Official Test Centre (OTC).

Manager of the OTC, Tris Best, said: “The racing will be all inclusive – all you need to be able to do is sail across the wind, turn around and come back to your starting point.

“For those a little more experienced, we will use the RS:One kits of the Will Mackaness Trust and join in on the large start line set up by our partners – the Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre.

“There will also be an open bar at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy and a barbecue available throughout the afternoon.”

For more information to take part in the windsurfing, telephone 07817717904.

Castle Cove Sailing Club and entries from the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Aca-demy will be participating in a pursuit race in Portland Harbour and in the afternoon, teams of young people will be taking part in their own races.