Bart's Bash Hong Kong 2016 - roll up, roll up!

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 13 Sep 2016 Bart’s Bash probably needs no introduction – it’s the sailing memorial event that raises funds for the Bart Simpson Foundation. Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson was a member of the Artemis challenge crew prior to the last America’s Cup, and was tragically killed when the Artemis AC72 foiling cat broke up while sailing. Bart was both a ‘character’ and a gent, and along with his best friend Ian Percy won a gold medal in the Star class at the 2008 Olympics.

By getting everyone sailing in the same 24 hour period all around the world, and by making the courses all the same size everywhere, the organisers are able to compare all the elapsed times and announce a winner of “The Biggest Sailing Event in the World”!

Most importantly, Bart’s Bash is a fund-raising event, and this year funds will go towards supporting disabled sailing. In Hong Kong the participating event will take place in Port Shelter on Sunday 18 September, with a warm-up Sailability event on Saturday 17 – very appropriate.

As part of the regular Sailability (HK) programme, a group of mixed ability sailors (both intellectual and physical disabilities) will be sailing in the Hansa fleet on Saturday 17 September. Practice session on Saturday morning, and first racing start 1400 hrs. Prizegiving sponsored by Holman Fenwick Willan and Carlsberg.

Bart's Bash Race: Sunday 18 September. A mixed fleet of Able and Sailiability sailors will race on Sunday. Start 1400 hrs, SSIs jointly issued by HHYC and Sailability (HK).

A donation of HK$400 will include a prizegiving and bbq sponsored by Holman Fenwick Willan and Carlsberg. All proceeds go to Bart's Bash, and this year the event is raising funds for disabled sailing. Classes: Optimist, Laser, 2.4mR, Keelboats. Able sailors interested in chartering a 2.4mR, please contact the organisers.

Please contact info@sailability.org.hk or htac_htims@yahoo.co.uk for more info, or phone Kay +852 9808 0570 or Catherine +852 6183 8656 or Mike +852 9279 0796 / +852 2199 7499

Here's the info you need, so please roll up, roll up and support what is one of the best sailing causes in the world for a whole number of reasons! See you next week!