Sailability (HK) races in Bart’s Bash

by Asia Yacht Press on 17 Sep 2016 Bart's Bash unites sailors in one colossal global sailing event. The event, founded in 2014, is run in memory of Olympic and AC sailor Andrew 'Bart' Simpson, and the annual fundraising and mass participation campaign is in aid of - and is organised by - the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation.

Verified by Guinness World Records as 'The Largest Sailing Race in the World', in the last two years Bart's Bash has seen over 45,000 sailors participate in the event in 62 countries. Now in its third year, the event has 58 countries and 354 venues involved. There are three entries from Hong Kong; Sailability HK (hosted by Hebe Haven Yacht Club), Lantau Yacht Club and Discovery Bay Yacht Club.

Sailability (HK) is a registered charity that runs sailing programmes for people with disabilities in Hong Kong. Founded in 2009, the Hebe Haven Sailability Trust has grown rapidly over the years, and the group has now reached the milestone of 1,000 disabled sailors. Sailability (HK) has a fleet of Hansa Access dinghies and 2.4mR single-handed racing boats. With the assistance of a group of dedicated volunteers, Sailability (HK) sailors have participated in numerous local and international sailing events, including sending three competitors to the 2.4mR class Open World Championships, in Finland in 2013.

This weekend Sailability (HK) will host a whole weekend of sailing. Intellectually and physically disabled sailors sailed in the Hansa fleet on Saturday, and the official Bart’s Bash Race on Sunday will be contested by a mixed fleet of disabled and able-bodied sailors competing in 2.4mRs, Optimists, Lasers and keelboats. Racing takes place in Port Shelter, with the prizegiving being held at the Hebe Haven Yacht Club and sponsored by Holman Fenwick Willan and Carlsberg.

Mike Rawbone, one of the founders of Sailability (HK) was happy to report that today was a “fantastic day on the water for everyone, and a very rewarding day for those who took part in the sailing.”

Over on the other (western) side of Hong Kong, the Lantau Yacht Club and Discovery Bay Yacht Club conducted their racing today (Saturday) in a fleet of high performance catamarans and beach cats. Post event celebrations and prizegiving took place in the Discovery Bay North Plaza with catering by Chef's Choice.

With the decision being made to drop sailing from the 2020 Paralympics, the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation has pledged to use the funds raised through Bart's Bash 2016 to help promote the global development of disabled sailing.

Back at the east end of Hong Kong, today’s opener for the weekend provided 6 to 8 knots of breeze and plenty of September sunshine. The Sailability (HK) competitors completed three triangle courses in the truly glorious surroundings of Port Shelter, and then retired to Hebe Haven Yacht Club for an impromptu prizegiving. Action resumes tomorrow for Bart’s Bash ‘proper’.

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