More than 18,000 participants last month achieved a new Guinness World Record by taking part in Bart’s Bash, the largest ever sailing event. The event, which including participation from about 10 clubs in Asia, raised some US$ 380,000 for the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation.
Andrew “Bart” Simpson tragically died in the lead up to the America’s Cup last year after he was trapped under the Artemis Catamaran following a capsize. His friends organised the event in his honour with the intent of raising funds for introducing young people to the sport of sailing.
Hundreds of Asian Sailors join the party
From an Asia perspective, more than a dozen clubs participated with Thailand and China leading the way.
Thailand
A total of four Clubs signed up in Thailand including the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Thailand’s North Eastern seaside town of Pattaya, where pleasant Thai weather and a bit of wind helped bring about a superb turn out of 65 boats (photos courtesy of Royal Varuna Yacht Club).
More about the racing here
Elsewhere in Thailand, events also took place at:
- Ao Chalong Yacht Club in East Phuket
- The Phuket Cruising Yacht Club
- Koh Phangan Free Youth Sailing Project
The Koh Phangan Free Youth Sailing Project, we think would have been right up Bart’s street and deserves a particular mention. The kids who participated in the six boats entered, have all come through the Project which invites kids to experience and learn to sail, all for free. More about the Project here
Vietnam
Manta Sailing Centre in Phan Thiet, Vietnam, put on a dinghy race with Nguyen Van La winning in a Laser. Photos below:
China
Meanwhile in China, at the Beijing Sailing Center, an impressive 26 dinghies took to the water with more than 50 individual sailors participating.
In Hong Kong, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club put on a race in Victoria Harbour (photos below), whilst the Lantau Boat Club, Discovery Bay Yacht Club and Aberdeen Boat Club all put on their own races. On the day Hong Kong suffered from light winds all round, with even the Hobie 16s, Dart 19s, F18s and Nacras struggling on the South side of the Island. How else could a Ruffian 23 come so close to getting the gun on the water in Victoria Harbour against Etchells and Flying 15s! That’s right, Scallywag with the Asia at Sea contingent on board came within 20 seconds of the gun with only Greg Farrell’s Etchell Dream On squeezing through to save some blushes.
For the Lantau Boat Club Bart’s Bash results click here
RHKYC photos:
For the RHKYC Bart’s Bash results click here Photos by RHKYC / Guy Nowell.
Other Chinese Clubs participating were:
- Iron Rock Sailing Club in Xiamen
- Shanghai Sailing Club
- Seven Star Yacht Club in Shenzhen
- The Taiwan Keel Boat Association
Elsewhere in Asia
Other Asian Clubs taking part were:
- The Mana Mana Beach Club in Singapore
- Polaris Sailing Club in South Korea
- Ceylon Motor Yacht Club in Sri Lanka
The Andrew Simpson Foundation in it’s own words:
The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation transforms the lives of young people through sailing. Everything we do is driven by our belief that all young people have the ability to excel – through sailing we provide opportunities to grow, achieve and inspire excellence.
Inspired by Olympic Gold and Silver medallist Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, and founded by Sir Ben Ainslie CBE, Iain Percy OBE and Andrew’s wife Leah, the Foundation helps young people to develop the personal skills to succeed in life and improves access to jobs and careers within the maritime sector. Our activity principally focuses on young people between the age of 5 and 24 and we aim to combine invaluable time spent on water alongside providing life changing inspiration and encouragement.
For more about the Foundation and the Bart’s Bash event visit the Barts Bash Website
