Barton is participating in this year’s Cowes Week charity auction, run by the XOD class which will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of this venerable class. Already one of the largest fleets at Cowes, all records will be broken this year with 141 entries confirmed, the largest class start ever in the history of Cowes Week.

The XOD Auction is an important part of the Centenary celebrations and Barton is donating equipment worth £250 for this great cause. Through the generosity of class donors, sponsors and of course the successful bidders, the XOD class will donate all auction proceeds to two charities. Two equal donations will be made to Toe in the Water, this year's Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week nominated charity and Sailability.

Toe in the Water is a tri-service initiative which aims to inspire service men and women who have sustained often traumatic injuries, including the loss of limbs, to move beyond their disability and to become re-inspired by life through competitive sailing. Sailability, which is the charity arm of the Royal Yachting Association, encourages and supports people with disabilities to take up the sport and facilitates sites to develop sailing opportunities.

Barton Marine’s very own Christian Brewer will again be competing with XOD legend Stuart Jardine aboard X119 during Cowes Week.  Stuart has won the event 8 times, which is a class record and has his sights firmly set on regaining the title from the Lawrence Brothers who won last year aboard X26.

For more information about XOD class racing, please visit www.xonedesign.org.uk/.