On 28 February, at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show, the count “up” began to Bart’s Bash 2015, the global sailing race being held on 20 September on behalf of the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation.
Count “up” because registration for venues around the world intending to hold a race was officially opened at the Show and, by the second day of the Show, the number had already climbed to 57, with hundreds more expected in the next few months.
A special message from America’s Cup winning skipper, Jimmy Spithill, encouraged everyone to get involved and laid down a challenge to Iain Percy and Sir Ben Ainslie to beat him this year.
Founding Trustee of the Foundation, Olympic Gold medallist and now America’s Cup team boss, Iain Percy had flown in to the Show to accept the challenge and add his own encouragement to everyone to make Bart’s Bash 2015 another special event.
This is the second time the unique sailing event has taken place. Bart’s Bash was conceived in 2014 as a participation event in memory of Andrew “Bart” Simpson. It grew beyond all expectations and officially became the largest sailing race in the world, raising over £360,000 for the charity started in Bart’s name.
This year the aim of the 2015 campaign is to increase participation even further across the world with the ultimate goal of becoming the world’s biggest sporting event. Any sailing clubs, community sailing programmes, sail training centres, yacht clubs, scout groups, sea cadets and even groups of sailors globally can hold a Bart’s Bash race.
All Bart’s Bash participants are being encouraged to raise valuable funds for the Foundation which is already undertaking a range of sustainable projects, using sailing to transform the lives of children and young people globally.
– Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation.
