VIDEO Bart’s Bash, registration open for the Guinness-bound regatta

Organized by the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, the organization set up in memory of the great sailor who died following the terrible Artemis accident at the last America’s Cup, the Bart’s Bash (Andrew was called ‘Bart’) aims to be a “global regatta” which wants to enter the Guinness Book of Records in participation numbers (and raise money for charity) everyone can register for the big event to be held next Sept. 21. The registration campaign has begun, and there are plenty of sailing stars who have “put their faces on it” as testimonials. Among them are Italians Vasco Vascotto and Francesco “Checco Bruni.”

BART’S BASH: THE SAILING STARS VIDEOINVITATION

THE IDEA OF BART’S BASH
The idea came from an article by British journalist Andy Rice who wondered, “I wonder if there is a possibility of running a regatta simultaneously in all clubs in the country. Almost every club organizes a regatta on Sunday morning, with boats of a wide variety of classes, so why not combine all the results and have a great Sunday regatta?”.

HOW IT WORKS.
The original plan was to have only dinghies participate, but the great demand from many yacht clubs to participate made the event extend to larger boats as well. Bart’s Bash ihas thus become the first worldwide event with the goal of bringing together sailors from different yacht clubs in the country, from other countries, and from other continents, who can all race together in all classes, from dinghies to big boats and multihulls. A quest is underway to define which is the world’s largest regatta recorded by the Guinness World Record. But suffice it to say that the Isle of Wight’s Round the Island regatta involves 30,000 sailors, so the goal will be to have at least more than 50,000, which is five times more than originally planned.

Clubs and yacht clubs wishing to participate can send an email to tim@bartsbash.co.uk or visit www.bartsbash.co.uk, where the list of clubs will be posted. To further spread the idea and gather endorsements also use the Twitter hashtag #sailonbart.

WHAT IS ASSF
The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation was created to remember and honor the life of Andrew Simpson nicknamed “Bart” by friends and colleagues, winner of an Olympic gold and silver in the Star class at the Beijing and London Games and who tragically passed away during training ahead of the 34th America’s Cup with the Artemis team in San Francisco in May 2013. Andrew was always committed, taking time and energy to encourage young people in the world of sailing, and in his memory, the Foundation, a charity that aims to introduce kids who otherwise would not have the opportunity, to the sport of sailing, was created. Andrew was an internationally loved and respected sailor and person, and his passing has saddened sailors and enthusiasts alike. The foundation is growing steadily and, in the past six months, has raised more than 30,000 pounds to be used for its projects. Foundation officers are Sir Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy OBE, Leah Simpson, Amanda Simpson, David Tyler, Richard Butcher.