Bart's Bash at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club
by Paul Heath 25 Sep 2014 16:30 BST
21 September 2014
Bart's Bash at Leigh & Lowton © Richard Catchpole
On Sunday 21st September 82 hopeful record breakers took to the water for the international Bart's Bash event.
On arrival there was little wind but plenty of excitement to be found as the crews looked forward to racing against the world and agreed that no matter what happened wind wise they were there for a good cause, to remember the inspiration that was Bart Simpson and, as we sometimes forget, sailing is all about fun and enjoying yourself with like-minded people.
66 dinghies of 16 different classes took to the water for the midday start, a course and start line were set but as the time neared the postponement flag was hoisted due to what little wind there was disappearing all together. Eventually a light NE breeze filled in, the start line and course altered and the sequence began but such was the eagerness of the fleet this start resulted in a general recall just as the wind disappeared again. After a slight delay the wind reappeared and, over an hour after the scheduled start time, the race got away and the fleet made a clean start although one boat discovered, 1 hour too late, that in all the pre-event excitement he had forgotten to put the bung in the back of his boat and was last seen heading towards the foreshore. This sailor was no novice and so embarrassed was he that he asked that we make no mention of it Budd should you wish to know then it will be revealed subject to a donation to the ASSF charity.
The X1 of Alex Morrison/Steve White took an early lead and held this throughout followed by the two Phantoms of Paul Allen and Mark Dingsdale while the RS400's of Louise McKeand/Simon Dowse and Terry Oliver/Mark Atherton but, as race progressed, on several occasions the wind would disappear and reappear again therefore the distances between all boats was subject to who got into a band of wind or on the right side of a shift first. In a dying breeze the race was shortened as the slower boats came through the line after 2 laps while the faster boats managed to complete 3 laps in just under the hour mark.
Prizes for the event will be awarded at the clubs annual prize giving when they have been calculated and returned from the bash team. To date clubs members have raised over £790 in sponsorship and on the day generous sailors and spectators donated £310 into the 'Barts Bash Bin'
Thanks go to 1st Mark chandlers and the Worthy gym & fitness centre for their donations to the charity and event.