The event, which was organised to pay tribute to Olympic gold medallist Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, who died in an accident last year while training for the America’s Cup, was a great success locally and worldwide, attracting 18,000 participants from more than 700 sailing clubs in 68 countries.
It was also held to raise funds for the Andrew Simpson Foundation, established to inspire the mext generation of sailors.
In Jersey, the event began in the morning at St Catherine’s Sailing Club, where 64 sailors in 51 boats took to the water, making a spectacular sight in the bay. Leading the field from the start and never letting up was trans-Atlantic sailor and Jerseyman Phil Sharp, on a short visit to the Island – a break from his preparations for the gruelling round-the-world yacht race, the Vendée Globe, in 2016.
‘It was a fantastic sail, the conditions were great and it was wonderful to see such a good turn-out for the event,’ he said, before heading to St Aubin’s Bay to take part in the second event of the day, organised by the St Helier and Royal Channel Islands Yacht Clubs.
The fleet of over 30 Hobie Cats and 20 cruisers made for another impressive sight. ‘They were superb sailing conditions and it was wonderful to be joining the RCIYC and St Helier Yacht Clubs cruiser fleet on such a special commemorative occasion,’ said Gordon Burgis RCIYC Hobie Fleet representative. ‘The day couldn’t have been better.’
