MORE than 18,000 people turned out to race in Bart’s Bash, a sailing event in honour of late Olympian Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, setting a new world record in the process.
Organisers say that 3,600 boats took part in the global event, sailing more than 6,000 miles cumulatively.
The numbers are high enough to set a new world record for the largest sailing race ever held. The record will now be ratified by Guinness World Records.
Richard Percy, CEO of the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, said: “The event has proved a huge success and we are delighted to announce that, subject to ratification, we have set the new Guinness World Record. And we have done it in style with 82 per cent of the results still to be processed.
“The turnout exceeded our expectations and we are very happy that we provided a truly global opportunity for people to come together and enjoy sailing.
“We hope this event will become a regular feature in the global sailing calendar.”
Simpson won gold at Beijing 2008 with Iain Percy in the Star class, and followed up with a silver at London 2012.
He died in May last year when the catamaran he was sailing on capsized and broke up while training for the America’s Cup.
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