This weekend sees the annual Bart’s Bash Charity event, the biggest sailing race in the world when traditionally the sailing, cruising and racing fraternities all come together to participate in the biggest and most fun sailing race in the world. Combined with the family fun day, there is something for everyone and even a chance to grab some bargain used kit in our lost property sale.

Details of this years blockbuster are below, together with other important information:

Barts Bash Sunday 14-Sep-25

AM – Bart’s Bash

If you only race once this year, Bart’s Bash is the day! Open to all, whether you are an experienced racer or have never crossed a start line. PRO Adam Broughton will give a briefing to explain everything you could think of before the race starts at 11:00 on a simple course.

To make sure you are included in the global results (and save Adam a headache in getting them input!), please sign up in advance at https://www.bartsbash.com/sign-up/individual. We’ll be collecting donations to the Andrew Simpson Foundation on the day (suggested £5 per boat – card only) and our Bart’s Bash barometer is up for grabs along with some spot prizes!

The Andrew Simpson Foundation is inspired by the legacy of former Olympic Gold medallist Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, who tragically died in a training incident in San Fransisco in 2014. The foundation aims to give every young person, regardless of background access to the life-changing benefits of being on the water. We continue to use Bart’s Bash as a great way to support this amazing cause.

PM – Family Fun Day

After racing in the morning and some lunch is the chance for something a bit different! There will be a selection of activities both on and off the water. We’ll give some more details at the end of the Bart’s Bash prizegiving, but a flavour is given below. There will be sugary prizes all round!

Star in a reasonably priced car boat – out and back time trial
Lap of the lake – sail around the outside of the club racing marks
Ashore and afloat orienteering – solve the clues to find the hidden words
Tug of war – teams of 3 – bring your competitive spirit!

Alongside the activities, our amazing chew Crew team will be running an sale of all the unclaimed kit in lost property. This could be the chance to pick up some great kit for a bargain price. Proceeds will be split evenly between the Andrew Simpson Foundation and Chew Crew!

If you would like to donate any of your old kit then please do bring it down and help your fellow members be better equipped when getting afloat (the only provisos are that kit is clean and if it isn’t sold, you take it away again at the end of the day!).

So come and join us, there’s something for everyone!

The club is also providing up to 100 £5 Galley vouchers for members on the day. Do come to the registration desk in the main club room in the morning to claim yours (first come, first served, 1 per member). Please do consider donating to the Andrew Simpson Foundation when collecting your voucher!

Rough timings for the day:
10:15 – Bart’s Bash briefing
11:00 – Bart’s Bash race start
13:00 – Bart’s Bash prizegiving
13:00 – 16:00 – Second hand kit sale
13:30 – 15:00 – afternoon Family Fun Day activities
15:30 – afternoon prizes

Undercover Boat Store

We are continuing our tidy around the club premises and next in the dinghy park team’s sites are various masts, bits of kit and other sundries ‘housed’ in the undercover boat store. Masts etc may be housed here with related boats subject to payment of the boat store fee, but over the years other items have crept in.

Would all owners of any such kit please ensure they tag it using the tags and pens housed in the secretaries office (pictured below) where this relates to a boat also being kept in the store

Owners of items that are currently in the store that do not relate to a boat and where no fee has been paid should please otherwise make arrangements to remove the items and store them at home or elsewhere.

All items need to be either tagged or removed prior 25-Oct-25 at which point they will otherwise be relocated into the upper boat park and may potentially be disposed of in accordance with rule 13. If you are unable to get to the club to tag or remove your item please contact Austen or Dave asap by email here

Autumn Youth Programme

Following last year’s success, we are again extending the youth programme into autumn. The following events are on offer:

  • 5 “pay as you go” Chew Crew sessions – supervised Sunday morning sailing for those with stage 2+ who want to put their skills into practice: Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club: Chew Crew Autumn programme 2025
  • 4 Informal race coaching opportunities in September & October – extra briefing and coaching for those participating independently in Sunday morning club racing, email chewcrew@chewvalleysailing.org.uk to join the WhatsApp group
  • 20/21-Sep-25 – Topper coaching and Topper racing at Chew, provided by the International Topper Class Association. This is suitable for those sailing at stage 3+ level, particularly those who did this year’ s ‘Chew Crew RACE’ training. Email chewcrew@chewvalleysailing.org.uk to join the WhatsApp group and find out more
  • 11/12-Oct-25 – Weekend stage 4 course (double handed sailing, for experienced single handers): Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club: 2025 RYA Youth Course – Stage 4. The stage 3 course on the same weekend is currently fully booked.

If have any questions, or would like to get involved (we need organisers and instructors) then please email chewcrew@chewvalleysailing.org.uk

That’s all for now, see you all on the water!

Andy
Andy Jones

Commodore