By Gary Tenenbaum
The Nyack Boat Club is among the worldwide leaders in fundraising for Bart’s Bash, a sailing event with thousands of world wide participants. The NBC will enter 58 boats and with 122 members in the September 21st race named for famed Olympic and America’s Cup racing sailor Andrew “Bart” Simpson. The event is organized by the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation (ASSF) and is set to be the largest sailing race in the world. The Nyack Boat Club is currently in third place for overall fundraising for the event.
Who was Bart?
Sailing journalist Andy Rice wrote in the January 2013 Yachts and Yachting about an international sailing event where boats would compete at the same time in different locations around the world. “I’ve been wondering if there is a way of having a club race simultaneously across the whole country.… pretty much every club in the country has a race on Sunday morning, with all kinds of boats taking part. Why can’t we get all the race results mashed together to create one big national race on a Sunday Morning?”
Only a few months later on May 9, Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson tragically died in a training accident in San Fransisco Bay while preparing for the America’s Cup competition. There was shock across the sailing world at the loss of this truly great and selfless man, and there were clearly many, many people whose lives had been touched by him in some way.
The inaugural Bart’s Bash sailing race will be run by sailing clubs all around the world on behalf of the the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation charity. Each sailing club will sail an individual Bart’s Bash race at their location on Sunday Sept 21. The foundation has ask people to support their charitable work with a £5 donation (about $8) to take part.
With over 5,000 sailors registered to race in almost 700 venues across the globe, this event is raising funds to support the ASSF. Through sailing, the Foundation’s goal is to help young people develop life skills that will improve their ability to succeed in life and provide access to jobs and careers within the maritime sector.
“We are thrilled to be involved in this record setting charity race and proud to be among the top clubs representing their nation”, said Amy Villalba, the Associate Event Planner for the Nyack Boat Club. NBC’s members participate in a six month long schedule of racing at the Club as well as hosting local, regional and national regattas.
The Nyack Boat Club, founded in 1909, is dedicated to recreational boating, the sport of sailboat racing and other related recreational pursuits on the Hudson River. The Club keeps dues and fees low through hands-on service by the membership and the year-round activities and programs are a vibrant source of entertainment for the members.
For more information about Bart’s Bash contact me at Gtenen@optonline.net 845 323 3123 to learn more about the Nyack Boat Club.
Gary Tenenbaum is the Commodore of the Nyack Boat Club.
