Thousands raised for Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation

Andrew Simpson (left) won gold with Iain Percy at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

More than £366,000 has been raised by a global sailing race that was held in memory of a British Olympic champion sailor.

At least 30,000 people from 60 countries took part in Bart's Bash in September.

The event was in memory of Andrew "Bart" Simpson, who was killed in May 2013 training for the America's Cup.

The total raised goes to the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation to support the charity's projects.

The amount was announced by Simpson's four-year-old son Freddie and his classmates at Sherborne Primary School.

Richard Percy, CEO of the foundation, said "A huge thank you from everyone at the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation for supporting us and helping to create a fantastic sailing event to honour a great sailor."

Organisers think it was one of the world's largest sailing events.

Among the UK events were races at the Southampton Boat Show and the Clipper Race Yacht Club in Gosport, Hampshire, and one at Port St Mary in the Isle of Man.

Father-of-two Simpson, who lived with his wife Leah and two sons in Sherborne, Dorset, won Olympic gold at Beijing 2008 and silver at London 2012.

The next Bart's Bash will be held on 20 September 2015.

Sailors at more than 500 clubs in the UK took part in the simultaneous races