Bart’s Bash Regatta 2019 – Sint Maarten Yacht Club Fundraiser for the Bahamas Youth Sailors

The Sint Maarten Yacht Club welcomes sailors to sail in the sixth edition of Bart’s Bash!

Bart’s Bash is a global sailing event taking place at hundreds of venues, with thousands of sailors in different classes of boats around the world. Bart’s Bash is one of the Andrew Simpson Foundation’s (ASF) key charitable events. This year, the Sint Maarten Yacht Club would like to make Bart’s Bash all about racing and raising funds for the Bahamas.

All proceeds collected at this year’s Bart’s Bash/St. Maarten will be sent to Lori Lowe, the president of the Bahamas Sailing Association (BSA), with the instructions that the funds raised should go to those youth sailors affected by hurricane Dorian.

From September 27th to October 4th, Nassau will be hosting the 2019 North American Optimist Championships. Three young sailors that will be competing for the Bahamas team are from Abaco. Thankfully they survived Dorian and have now been rescued and are safe in Nassau.

Two weeks after Hurricane Irma hit St. Maarten in 2017, the Sint Maarten Yacht Club was determined that their kids would sail in the Bart’s Bash. They patched up any boats they could and got as many kids that were still around out on the water. It was a success and a greatly needed fun afternoon, as well as fantastic therapy for the kids.

“It is so important that you get kids back to doing as many normal activities as possible after such devastating events. Just having a laugh and doing what they love helps start the healing process. It is vital to try to get as much normality back into their lives to help them deal with all the chaos that they now find themselves in. The Sint Maarten Yacht Club received lots of help after Irma and therefore understands how important it is to get any help possible. Some of the help came from the Andrew Simpson Foundation which is why with the Bart’s Bash coming up, we thought this would be a great way to help,” stated Michele Korteweg, General Manager of the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. “Let’s help keep these kids strong by getting them out sailing again.”

Please sign up to race in Bart’s Bash or sign up to raise funds! There is no fee to enter the event, just register by clicking on the registration button on our website: www.smyc.com/bartsbash or let us know that you want to raise funds: leonde@smyc.com

Contact Reinier Calkhoven for the available boats: youthsailing@smyc.com

Possibilities of fundraising are getting your boat sponsored, baking cookies and selling them during the day, join our Raffle at the prizegiving starting 5:00 or contact us with your own idea. All donations will go towards the youth sailors of the Bahamas.

For more information, The Notice of Race, the Sailing Instructions, Supplementary Sailing Instructions, registration and fundraising: www.smyc.com/bartsbash