MORE than 10,000 sailors from all over the world are gearing up to hit the water in a bid to set a new world record for the biggest ever sailing race in memory of Andrew Simpson.

The Olympic gold medal sailor died in May last year in a tragic accident while training for the America’s Cup in San Francisco.

In honour of Simpson, known affectionately as Bart, his friends and family including Hampshire stars Sir Ben Ainslie and Iain Percy are staging Bart’s Bash.

The event intends on uniting sailors from more than 700 clubs from 60 countries around the world who will take part in a simultaneous yacht race.

It has received support from a string of high-profile sailors including Australian gold medallist Tom Slingsby and America’s Cup winning skipper Jimmy Spithill.

Organisers are hoping to have their record ratified by Guinness World Records.

Almost 500 clubs from the UK are taking part including dozens throughout Hampshire.

A spokesman for the event said: “The aim of Bart’s Bash is to remember Andrew Simpson, to inspire a new generation of sailors, to encourage clubs to open their doors and to fundraise for the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation.

“All the funds raised through Bart’s Bash will support the development and delivery of the Foundation’s charitable programmes internationally.

“These programmes have Bart’s and the Olympic values at their heart, and are currently being developed and tested at the Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre.”

Simpson died when he was hit on the head as the America’s Cup yacht Artemis he was sailing on capsized.

He had previously won gold with Percy in the Star class at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing before taking silver at London 2012.