Ronnie Simpson, While Preparing for Solo Around-the-World Sail, Returns With Sparrow for Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show
Thirty-eight-year old Hawaii-based sailor Ronnie Simpson has recently sailed back into Annapolis after conducting more than 900 miles of solo offshore sea trials and training off of the East Coast. Simpson, a combat-wounded and medically retired US Marine, is preparing for the Global Solo Challenge race out of Spain in October.
His Open 50 racing yacht, Sparrow, has completed two solo around the world races in the past, but now it is Simpson’s turn to race Sparrow around the world, non-stop and solo. Previously known as Newcastle, Australia, and Balance Bar, the 50-foot racing yacht was donated to US Patriot Sailing—a Chesapeake based Veteran’s sailing non-profit—specifically for this campaign.
While Simpson and Sparrow spent the winter in the Carolinas for offshore training and boat preparations, the campaign is now back at home base in Annapolis for one month before tackling her race required 2000-mile qualifying voyage and sailing over to Europe for the race start.
Since being wounded in combat by a rocket-propelled grenade in Iraq in 2004, Simpson has gone on to sail more than 130,000 miles at sea including dozens of ocean crossings and races, mostly in the Pacific. With a lifelong dream of racing around the world singlehanded, Ronnie was given that opportunity when he was able to acquire the Open 50, along with the help of US Patriot Sailing.
Simpson and US Patriot Sailing have teamed up to operate the vessel out of Annapolis for a period of three years. After Simpson races around the world solo this fall, the vessel will return to Annapolis to be a sailing and training platform for the US Patriot Sailing veteran community, and will campaign local offshore races.
The campaign is also supported by a number of other marine industry companies including local companies such as Chesapeake Sailmakers and The Rigging Company. While here in Annapolis, the team will install an entire new inventory of sails sponsored by Chesapeake Sailmakers and Elvstrøm Sails out of Denmark and do major rigging upgrades.
“We did a lot of work to the boat during our winter re-fit in North Carolina, and I have just completed over 900 miles of solo training and sea trials which went off without a hitch. The boat is performing well. It’s really cool to be back in Annapolis… with some of my biggest sponsors being based here, and the boat now owned and registered out of Annapolis, I’m especially looking forward to engaging with the local sailing community once again while at the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show.
“We had the boat on display at the US Sailboat Show (fall show) and had literally thousands of people walk through and tour the boat. We also took a school group and some veterans out sailing and engaged with several sponsors. Annapolis has an incredible sailing culture and has really embraced this campaign; I look forward to engaging with the community once again, and I’m grateful to the Annapolis Sailboat Show for this opportunity,” Simpson said.
Ronnie and Sparrow will be docked at the show from Friday April 28 through Sunday April 30, and will be based in Annapolis Roads through the end of May before tackling her race required 2000 mile qualifying sail and ending in Maine before heading to Europe.
For more information on this campaign, visit at ronniesimpsonracing.com
