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The personal stories from Bart's Bash

by Mark Jardine 22 Sep 2014 14:50 BST 21 September 2014
Sir Ben Ainslie signs a photo during the Bart's Bash event at Queen Mary © Alex Irwin / www.sportography.tv

Bart's Bash is well on its way to setting a Guiness World Record for the World's Largest Sailing Race, but in amongst the huge number of participants, there are thousands of personal stories going on. This has taken place from Olympians through to those who met Bart and took inspiration from him.

Of the Olympians, Iain Percy was sailing with Bart's eldest son Freddie in the Star at Weymouth - the first time he'd been out on the boat at Weymouth since London 2012. Ian Walker sailed a Finn for the first time, wearing a +39 Challenge jacket from when Ian & Bart sailed together in the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup.

Ian Walker sailing a Finn alongside his daughter during the Bart's Bash event at Warsash - photo © Nick Daniels
Ian Walker sailing a Finn alongside his daughter during the Bart's Bash event at Warsash - photo © Nick Daniels

On social media the other really noticeable theme has been family. So many people chose to sail with those closest and dearest to them.

Of all the photos which I have seen so far, the one that I have found most poignant is the shot at the top of this article taken by Alex Irwin of Sir Ben Ainslie signing a photo at Queen Mary Sailing Club. Bart and Ben had clearly been a huge inspiration in the young sailor's life and a lot of effort had clearly been made to get the photo in pristine condition to the event for Ben to sign.

If you took part in the Queen Mary SC Bart's Bash event then Alex Irwin is giving all proceeds from any photos he took to the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation. Alex's shots are available on his sportography.tv website.

For my part I chose to sail a 420, something I hadn't stepped foot in for well over 20 years, as it was the last boat I sailed with Bart at college. I sailed with a very good friend who'd managed to acquire his old boat in exchange for two coffee cups and a cheeseboard. The sails were so old that we had a 'K' instead of 'GBR' on the sail, but we had a blast, raised some money for the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation and remembered a great man.

The reports are flowing in thick and fast from Bart's Bash, but I think it's the individual stories that are the true inspiration from the event, everyone's personal tribute to Bart. Feel free to share yours using the Facebook comments box below.

#sailonbart

Mark

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