Star Sailors League 12.12.2017

12.12.2017
The Star Sailors League is delighted to announce that they have selected the Andrew Simpson Foundation, a sailing charity set up in memory of Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson as their official charity in 2018.

As the charity moves into its fifth year, the Star Sailors League, right after its fifth SSL Finals in Nassau – Bahamas, were keen to show their support for the Foundationby raising awareness of the amazing work that is currently taking place around the globe, and help to raise funds. This will allow the ASF to continue to increase and inspire participation and improve lives, all in Bart’s name.

The Star Sailors League is a circuit created by sailors for sailors. It is born from a desire to offer sailing champions a simple, well priced and efficient platform from which to showcase their exploits to a global audience. Celebrating the stars of yesterday and today while creating those of tomorrow is the vocation behind the Star Sailors League, a circuit that seeks to be part of sailing tradition while making it more ‘pop’ and more attractive to the public.

The announcement was made on Saturday December 9th by Peter Lester, anchorman of the SSL Finals live streaming show, via a live link up with Iain Percy OBE, Bart’s closest friend, sailing partner and the Founding Trustee of the ASF.

Commenting on the decision, Xavier Rohart, President of the Star Sailors League, on behalf of the whole team, said: „We deeply appreciate what the Foundation is doing in the name of Bart, improving the life of children around the world through sailing. And we are so honored to be able to give some support to the many initiatives of ASF. In the Star Sailors League we have the Andrew Simpson Trophy awarded to the best crew in the SSL Ranking.“

Iain Percy, Founding Trustee of the Andrew Simpson Foundation and Olympic Champion in the Star Class added: “The Andrew Simpson Foundation is delighted to have been selected as the official charity of the Star Sailors League in 2018. The charity set up to honour Bart’s legacy has already made a huge difference to the lives of thousands of disadvantaged young people around the world. The support from the Star Sailors League will enable us to raise even more awareness of the work being carried out, and help us to continue improving the lives of young people around the world through sailing.”

Media Contacts
Andrew Simpson Foundation
amy@andrewsimpsonfoundation.org
+44 7554 968 968
Star Sailors League
rachele.vitello@starsailors.com
+39 328 2140 680

The Andrew Simpson Foundation
https://andrewsimpsonfoundation.org/

The Andrew Simpson Foundation (ASF) was founded in memory of, and inspired by, Olympic Gold medallist sailor Andrew ‚Bart‘ Simpson. The Founding trustees are Sir Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy OBE and Andrew’s wife Leah.

The ASF honours the life and legacy of a sailor who was passionate about encouraging and helping others to fulfil their aims. Its simple objective is to „inspire the next generation“ by using sailing to improve the lives of young people across the world.

The ASF is providing the challenges of a sailing environment to promote health and wellbeing, and to develop personal skills that will improve a young person’s ability to succeed in life and work. It recognises sailing as a sport and as a recreation that is not always accessible to all owing to lack of finance, a physical or learning disability, mental health or social barriers. The Foundation helps to break down those barriers by working with sailing providers to offer financial and practical support. #sailonbart

ASF Community Sailing Programmes

ASF Discover Sailing:
Introducing young people (aged 9-13) to the sport of sailing (who financially would not be able to afford it) and providing routes to regular participation.
ASF Sailing Club:
Giving young people, who would not be able to afford it, the opportunity for regular participation, sailing qualification’s and life skills development.
ASF Race Club:
Young people, who would not be able to afford it, are provided with ongoing race coaching and regatta support.
ASF Aiming High:
Young and physically or mentally disabled children are provided with the opportunity to regularly attend sailing sessions and experience the physical and mental wellbeing benefits of being on the water.
ASF SailFit!:
Children, aged 9-13, who are at risk of obesity are being offered regular sailing sessions to improve their physical health. They are also provided with exercise and nutritional advice and support.
ASF Young Leaders:
Young people, aged 14-16 and who would not be able to afford it, are given the opportunity to train up to Dinghy Instructor standard. They then volunteer to help teach and inspire the next generation at their clubs. They are also taught key life and personal skills throughout the two-year programme.
ASF Sail Training Project:
Providing vulnerable young people, who are in school exclusion units, with the opportunity to attend regular sail training sessions (as part of a 5-year programme), raise their aspirations and gain marine qualification that provide a route to employment in the marine sector.

Facebook.com/andrewsimpsonfoundation
Twitter.com/AndrewSimpsonFo

About the Star Sailors League
www.starsailors.com

At the initiative of the world’s best sailors, an international circuit of regattas for the promotion of sailing athletes was launched in January 2013.
Under the name of „Star Sailors League“ (SSL), the event comprises all the regattas contested in the Star Class (200 per year) and proposes a unified world Ranking modelled on the ATP World Tour created by tennis players in 1972.
Like in tennis, the SSL distributes prize money to its athletes and plans to organise four Grand Slams and one Grand Final by the years 2020-2022.
Since 2013, the growing concept has already seen five SSL Finals of one Finals, one SSL Lake Grand Slam, one SSL City Grand Slam and supported a traditional format regatta at the Bacardi Cup.

Facebook.com/StarSailorsLeague
Instagram.com/starsailorsleague/?hl=it