Bartons May Newsline hits the press at this incredibly busy time of year as yachts in the UK, EU and USA are now back in the water after a long lonely winter. The racing scene is getting into full swing and everyone is realising the deck gear that "could last one more season", just isn't going to shine or survive in the sunny days ahead. The Barton Team is at full speed making sure orders reach you wherever you are around the world.
This month we look at how Team MudRatz got on at Charleston Race Week in the USA, we introduce a new addition to the Quick Cleat range and set off on our 2021 goal to raise money to get young people of Lymington out on to the water learning to sail and enjoying water sports. All these stories and more below..Were off to a great season!
Header Image © Priscilla Parker Photography
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NEW PRODUCT - Introducing White Quick Cleat
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Requested by power boat owners and sailors alike, Barton Marine announces the launch of the new White Quick Cleat that holds and locks lines up to 10mm and loads up to 70kg. Designed to blend in seamlessly on white gelcoat hulls, this addition to the Quick Cleat range ensures that boat owners can install Quick Cleats that are as sleek as they are useful. Find out more here.
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News fresh in from Barton in the USA. You could feel the excitement in the air at this year's Charleston Race Week. After a long break from regattas over the past year, everyone was itching to get to the start line. We followed sailor Lily Flack and Team MudRatz aboard a Melges 24, "Opportunity", throughout race week.
Below Lily shares the inside view of how this year's regatta went.
"After a long year of no sailing, I was very excited to get back on the racecourse. Sailing has always been my happy place, especially in Charleston. My favorite event, Charleston Race Week, turned out to be a huge success this year, even after taking the past year off from races due to the pandemic. They say time flies when you are having fun, and man did this happen at the regatta. After three days of racing, my team and I ended up in 21st overall out of 33 boats. With the oldest sailor on our boat being just 18 years old, we were delighted with our performance. We were there for a good time... There were no pros on our boat, just a handful of die heart sailors, and let me tell you how good it felt to beat a few pro-boats.
The famous Charleston's sea breeze usually doesn't fill in till the afternoon. Luckily, a few of the days, we had "breeze on" conditions, hiking as hard as we could upwind and sending it downwind. Before the event, we spent a lot of time double-checking our hardware, rigging, and sails to prepare for these conditions. Barton Marine supported us in this process, supplying our team with new spinnaker, backstay, and traveler blocks. After reflecting on the many events I have done as a spinnaker trimmer, I can honestly say that I have never had a better experience and feel of the kite through the blocks. I would highly recommend Barton Marine hardware and look forward to choosing their equipment in the future.
Thank you to Charleston Race Week organizers and volunteers for running a great few days of racing. Already planning for my 4th race week next April." - Lily Flack
Below on the water image © Rick Walo Photography
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KSSA 'Opening Splash'
Our Rising Star, Sailor Harry took on the KSSA 'Opening Splash' at Downs Sailing Club in Deal, Kent, UK. Sun, blue skies and a seven-knot breeze greeted 39 youth sailors in 32 dinghies for the first event at Down's Sailing Club in 20 months! Harry's racing season got off to a great  start at the event with a well deserved 2nd place overall.
KSSA is a voluntary organisation which aims to encourage all keen youth sailors to develop their sailing skills through a range of Kent-based sailing events. Throughout the year they organise training and racing events at sea, river and inland water venues.
Exploring Barton HQ
Last week Sailor Harry visited the team at Barton HQ in Whitstable. Taking in a full tour of the office and factory, Harry met the all important people without whom we would not exist and saw how some of our products are made including the popular Boomstrut.
"It was really great meeting everyone in the Barton team and they were all very welcoming. I enjoy engineering so it was great to get to look around the factory, I was really interested to see how everything was made and how they put all their products together by hand which means their Quality control is excellent. It was also interesting to see how they worked with their suppliers: It was a great afternoon - thank you Barton Marine"
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 Barton Marine is raising funds in support of "Wednesday Junior Sailing" on the Lymington River, with a fantastic entry in the 2021 London Marathon! Barton team member and long-distance runner Darren Tuff will dress up in a giant Barton Pulley Block costume and run the London Marathon on Sunday 3rd October 2021. This fundraising effort has been registered with Guinness Book of Records as the first Marine Pulley Block to compete and complete the 26.2 mile course and raise as much money as possible to help encourage young people to get out on the water and learn to sail! For the full story and to donate click here.
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Supporting Women in Marine
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Barton and Marine Industry News sponsored the Women in Marine presentation by Karen Dickins, the very inspiring MD of Committi Boats in the UK and Caribbean. Karen had a career at Exxon and with the large service station management company MSL before moving into brokerage. She provides great insight on how to meet opportunity in every change or setback and new trends to focus on for the future of business in this new virtual age.
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Karen Dickins - MD of Committi Boats shares insights in the latest WIM Webinar
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We are always ready to answer your Barton Marine technical questions, so never hesitate to email, phone or get in touch via social media and we can provide an answer.
Stay safe out there and see you soon out on the water,
Suzanne and The Barton Marine Team
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