The organisers of ‘Bart’s Bash’ officially
launched their bid to stage the largest sailing race in the world
this morning with a 90 second film.

The film, called Alignment, features some of the
greatest and most successful sailors to have sailed the seas.

It was put together from start to finish within
seven days and demonstrates the worldwide and far-reaching support
that this ambitious attempt has already attracted.

‘Bart’s
Bash’ will see yachts, dinghies and windsurfers racing at hundreds of
locations across the world simultaneously on 21 September 2014 at 11am
(BST) in memory of double Olympic medallist and America’s Cup sailor
Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson.

Sailors appearing in the film include Jimmy
Spithill, the youngest ever skipper to
win an America’s Cup, Sir Ben Ainslie,
the most successful Olympic sailor in history, Robert
Scheidt, the Brazilian winner of five medals
in five Olympic Games, John Bertrand,
who skippered the Australia II to victory in the 1983 America’s
Cup, ending 132 years of American dominance, the Frenchman Loïck
Peyron, the current holder of the Jules
Verne Trophy, Fredrik Lööf,
the Swede who has appeared in six Olympic games, Paul
Cayard, seven-time world champion, Xu
Lijia, the Chinese Gold medal winner in
2012 and the flag bearer in the closing ceremony.

Plus many more,
including Iain Percy,
Grant Simmer,
Nathan Outterridge,
Paul Goodison,
Shirley Robertson,
Tom Slingsby
and Xabi Fernandez.

Triple Olympic medallist and America’s Cup skipper Iain Percy said: ‘It’s going to be an amazing event, a World Record Attempt, everyone, every club, let’s get out there and celebrate this great man.’

Jez Payne, an event director for Bart’s Bash said of
the film: ‘Seven days ago we tested the water.

‘We asked the great
and the good of the sailing world, both past and present, to send us
a personal message if they felt aligned with Bart’s Bash.

‘This
film is just the beginning of what we received. We’ll be sharing
more of the films we have been generously given in the coming weeks.’

With reference to the decision to launch the record attempt in this
way Jez added: ‘This has never been done before.

‘This race will be
an opportunity for anyone, no matter whoever they are, wherever they
are or however old they are to race against the best in the world.

‘It’s like a Saturday league team squaring up against Real Madrid -
it’s bonkers and it’s going to be amazing fun.

‘Why wouldn’t you
want to have a go at that? Imagine if you could say that you beat
Sir Ben Ainslie or Jimmy Spithill….!’

The film can be viewed on
the event’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/bartsbash

So far 322 clubs worldwide from across 17 countries are
currently signed up to participate in Bart’s Bash, and organisers
expect this number to grow significantly.

There is no deadline for
subscribing to be a participating club for the event and anyone
interested should email tim@bartsbash.co.uk
for more information.

A full list of ‘ASSF Bart’s Bash’ participating clubs will
soon be found at www.bartsbash.co.uk

Keep spreading the word – #sailonbart