WEYMOUTH and Portland will be joining with the rest of the world once again and having a bash to enjoy some sailing while raising money for charity.

Sailors of all ages from clubs in Weymouth and Portland will be joining thousands across the globe on Saturday, September 17 to take part in the world’s largest sailing event, Bart’s Bash.

The event is organised in memory of Dorset Olympic sailor, Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson,who died while training for the America’s Cup in 2013.

The area’s sailing community will come together at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), with Weymouth Sailing Club, Castle Cove Sailing Club, Chesil Sailability, Osprey Training Centre and the Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre uniting for the event.

In addition to this, members of the British Sailing Team, including Olympic medallists Hannah Mills, Saskia Clark and Nick Dempsey will join sailors on the water for a “massive” race that begins at 1pm.

Event manager, Tim Anderton, of the ASSF said: “We hope to see at least 120 boats on the start line – some will launch from WPNSA, while others will join us on the water from their own clubs.

Following the race, there will be barbecues and lots of children’s sailing activities back at the academy, and the chance to meet a whole host of sailing personalities.”

Bart’s Bash is now in its third year and has so far seen more than 40,000 people taking part in 62 countries around the Earlier this year it was announced that there will be no sailing at the 2020 Paralympics.

Organisations providing opportunities for disabled people to get involved in sailing can apply for grants from the foundation with full details at www.andrewsimpsonfoundation.org from October.

Also being held at the WPNSA is an informal dinner which will feature live music, guest speakers and a charity raffle.

This is open to all with money raised going to a local school sailing project at IPACA. Contact lindsay@andrewsimpsonsailing.org www.bartsbash.com