Barts Bash 2024 – Report & Race

Barts Bash is the world’s largest sailing event in memory of multi-hull sailor Andrew Simpson and raises money for the Andrew Simpson Foundation. Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson was an Olympic Gold and Silver medallist who tragically passed away in 2013. Andrew passionately believed that everyone should have the opportunity to experience sailing and watersports, regardless of their background or circumstances.

The first Bart’s Bash took place in 2014. Thousands of people from around the world came together to race in memory of Bart. The event was such a success it was awarded a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest sailing race.

Bart’s Bash continues to connect the global sailing community, creating opportunities for people to get on the water and raise essential funds for the ASF. With your help, Bart’s Bash will continue to be a global event, enabling people to get out on the water and keeping Bart’s name alive for generations to come. Together we can transform lives through sailing.

Please make a donation to the Andrew Simpson Foundation

On Sunday 14th September 23 sailors in 14 dinghies lined up ready to race. Club sailors were joined by 4 RS Requests from Felixstowe Sea Cadets and a Laser from Youth Sailing. The course was set with a yellow pin mark near the river entrance and the “Perkins” race mark upriver, two laps with a course of 5086 meters total. Important to know the length for the global results later. Following the cold snap earlier in the week the conditions could only be described as “champagne sailing” with temperatures up, a good force 3 from the South East and an easing ebb tide.

A briefing took place to ease the junior sailors into what for several was their first time racing at the club. A quick tutorial on start lines and transits was given. Many of the sailors had joined in the race following a morning of race training at Youth Sailing, giving them the basics needed to compete.

The start line was busy with struggling to hold position due to the easing tide. When the gun went, only Finley and Gethyn were over the line, quickly returning behind it to continue the race.

From the start line teams stuck on Starboard getting towards the far bank before tacking to try and make the windward in only two tacks whilst avoiding the shallows.

Following the windward mark rounding, lasers came into the harbour 4 wide resulting in much call for room to avoid the river bank and shallows around the fuel jetty area. Mike Hill was unfortunate to be on the inside of the group and ran aground having to get out to reset the boat to continue the race.

At the start of lap two Max Evans capsized just before the yellow pin. Several recovery attempts later assistance was required resulting in retirement.

After 50 minutes of racing the RS Quests took shortened courses with Poppy, Hanna and Amerlia finished after one lap. The three remaining Quests continued with an extra leg to windward with Finley and Gethyn capsizing on their return from the mark. With a shortened course flag all the RS Quests finished with Rubie and Rebecca taking first, followed by Finley and Gethyn in second and Amber and Samson in third.

Meanwhile the full race continued. On the water finishes were the two Dart 18s of Ian and Paul Johnson, not closely by Josh Fisk and Jack Lennard. In the monohulls Roger and Jo led the way in the RS400 followed by the RS200 of Simon and Libby.

Thanks to Sam Rowell for organising and additionally, Lu Mustill and Alan Rutterford for stepping up last minute to run the crows nest.

Results

Race times have now been uploaded to Barts Bash Results.

Note Dart 18 7723 and 5875 rounded the windward mark the wrong way. Left in FFSC results for comparison. Winner Roger Lewis & Jo Barnard RS400 679.

Positions for Cadets, Juniors and retirees:

9th – RS Quest – Rubie & Rebecca
10th – RS Quest – Finley & Gethyn
11th – RS Quest – Amber & Samson
12th – Laser Radial – Bea Gilfedder
13th – RS Quest – Poppy, Hanna, Amelia
14th – Max Evans