Bart's Bash attracts over 400 clubs in two months!
by Jez Payne, Event Director 18 Feb 2014 14:20 GMT
21 September 2014
The winning Bart's Bash logo © Polly Durrant
Organisers of Bart's Bash announced the sign up of the 400th sailing club yesterday, only two months after the initial announcement of the event.
At a sign up rate that continues to match just short of 7 clubs a day worldwide, the World Record attempt is on track to easily become the largest sailing event ever on the planet.
Messages from some of the biggest names in the sailing world continue to be sent through to the Bart's Bash organising team. 'What a fantastic idea,' said New Zealander Sir Russell Coutts KNZM CBE, a 5 times America's Cup winner, Olympic Gold medallist and previous ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year. 'It's for a great cause and I think everyone's going to have a great time.' As a parting thought, he added: 'It's going to be interesting to see who the winner is!'
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club provided a milestone breakthrough at 300 clubs and then, just before the 2 month mark it was the turn of Club Nautic Arenal from Mallorca, Spain to push the entries through the 400 club marker. Albert Vadell, speaking on behalf of C N Arenal said 'This is a great intiative and CN Arenal wouldn't miss it for the world. So we're ready to go and make it happen!'
Anthony Day, Rear Commodore for the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club said, "We at RHKYC are proud to be involved and are much looking forward to helping build a fitting tribute to a truly remarkable sailor and an ambassador for the sport."
Organisers of the event continue to send their thanks out to people all around the world who are showing their support and sharing the word. In order to support discussion and enable greater networking for sailors and all those interested in sailing, an online forum centred around the record attempt has also been launched and can be found at www.thebartproject.com/forum
View the map showing the clubs and organisations signed up to take part in Bart's Bash here.
#sailonbart
www.bartsbash.co.uk
Background on Bart's Bash
The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation is planning a monster sized attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for 'The Largest Sailing Event' in the World Ever, which we are calling 'Bart's Bash'!
Sir Ben Ainslie enthused "We have been overwhelmed with the support from the sailing community for the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation. We firmly hope this event will inspire sailors young and old, beginners to professionals with clubs getting involved to capture people's imagination and create thousands of Guinness World Record Holders" Iain Percy OBE added "I am positive that it will not only receive enormous support from the UK but worldwide support too, it's going to be a colossal event and a great fun way to get thousands of people on the water at the same time whilst raising money for the Foundation".
The date to save for 'Bart's Bash' is Sunday 21st September.
www.bartsbash.co.uk
For more information please contact Tim Anderton by emailing
Background ASSF
The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation has been set up to honour the life of Andrew Simpson nicknamed "Bart" who won a Gold and Silver medal in the Star Class at the Beijing and London Olympic Games and was working with Artemis in respect of their America's Cup Challenge when he was sadly killed in a training accident in San Francisco Bay in early May 2013 training for the 34th Americas Cup.
Andrew spent a great deal of his time and energy seeking to encourage youngsters in their pursuit of sailing and, in his memory, have formed the Foundation as a charity with the objective to introduce young persons into sailing who otherwise would not be afforded the opportunity.
Andrew was very well respected world-wide and his death has saddened sailors and supporters all over the world. The Foundation is growing from strength to strength and has raised over £300,000 for our charitable aims in the last 6 months.
The Foundation is gradually making its plans a reality and more information about the future of The Foundation will be available as our plans are firmed up.
Trustees: Sir Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy OBE, Leah Simpson, Amanda Simpson, David Tyler, Richard Butcher, Jez Payne, John Derbyshire, Miles Bradbury
www.andrewsimpsonsailing.org