FRENSHAM Pond Sailing Club members supported the annual Bart’s Bash charity fund-raising international event, held in memory of Olympic sailor Andrew Simpson, who died in May 2013 when training for the America’s Cup.

The ‘Bash’ took place off Weymouth last Sunday, with three separate races all starting at 11am. Two races inside the harbour featured all the dinghies and windsurfers from each of the clubs and a race outside the harbour was for the yachts.

Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson was a hugely popular character in sailing and the event is replicated all over the world.

The many well-known sailors at Weymouth included Sir Ben Ainslie, a close friend of Bart Simpson.

The Frensham contingent sailed on water that resembled a sheet of glass. A few light eddies of wind were enough to waft the 30 entries around the course in warm sunshine.

Every class of boat sailed at Frensham was represented. Of particular note were the Sailability Hansa dinghies sailed by five wheelchair users. One of these sailors, Paul Philips, took second place in his class.

The main Frensham honours went to Alan Bird, a winner with his Solo class dinghy, while former club commodore Nick Royce came third in his Phantom dinghy. These results are based on the Portsmouth (PY) yardstick system.

Special prizes: John Winchester, James Stewart, Tessa Watkiss. Results: 1st, Alan Bird (Solo). 2nd, Paul Philips (Hansa). 3rd, Nick Royce (Phantom).