World Duchenne Awareness Day – A Day to Remember On 7 September, we celebrated World Duchenne Awareness Day, and it was a day I know I will never forget. We…

Two lucky students from Kronendal were recently given the opportunity of a lifetime — two sailing lessons hosted at Hout Bay Yacht Club by the Little Optimist Trust. For these…

We had the privilege of spending a beautiful day with the children at Eros Special School, a school supporting differently abled learners. Our time together was filled with connection, imagination…

A Weekend to Remember: Carl’s Superstar Experience Sometimes, a wish is about more than the experience itself. It’s about creating a moment of joy, a memory to hold onto, and…

🌊 A Saturday of Adventure, Fun & Teamwork at The Little Optimist ⛵️💙 This past Saturday on the 5th of September, we had the pleasure of welcoming a wonderful group…

During the months of July and August, The Little Optimist Trust in collaboration with HIIT Fitness hosted an incredible Sanitary Drive, bringing together the gym community to make a meaningful difference in…

We love empowering our staff and partners to create safe and confident experiences for children on and around the water. Recently, our team had the incredible opportunity to take part…

On the 18th of August we had a meaningful day of learning, connection and growth as we came together for a Train the Trainer: Trauma Training with Hope House. The…

This Women’s Day was nothing short of spectacular. We had the privilege of volunteering at the Roxy Davis Girls and Women of the Waves event, and what a memorable experience…

Written by: Tauriq Hassen, sentinelnews.co.za Greg Bertish with Kronendal Primary School pupils. The Kronendal Primary School library was buzzing with excitement on Monday, August 3, as pupils from Kronendal Primary…

Vista Nova Inspiration Day – Learning to Fail, Learning to Sail 📚⛵ On the 23rd of July, we had the privilege of spending an unforgettable day with the incredible learners…

On the eve of Mandela Day, we had the absolute privilege of welcoming the incredible young leaders from Laureus Elect to The Little Optimist Sailing Academy, and what a day…

It's the Last Day of the Multi-Day Program at Little Optimist! Our last day on the 11th of July 2026 at the Little Optimist Multi-Day Program was filled with joy,…

This July, we kicked off our Multi-day program with an unforgettable group of young people from Heideveld… and what a way to start! 💙⛵ From the moment they arrived on…

What's better than starting the school holidays at the Little Optimist Sailing Academy ⛵💙 We kicked off the July school holidays with a fantastic group from Marsh Memorial, and what…

I actually have no words to describe the past 7 months since receiving the news. A tropical bacteria had infected my heart valves at the age of 30 over 20…

"Uncle Amir, when I come back for the 4th time, can you please make me a coach so that I can start teaching the other kids how to sail?" This…

As we walked to the Academy with our friends from Marsh Memorial, one of the girls spotted the City Sightseeing boat making its way along the canal. The Little Optimist…

This youth month, The Little Optimist Crew has been visiting ECD centers in the Masiphumelele community to read The Little Optimist storybook, and what a beautiful experience it has been.…

Have you ever experienced the kind of happiness that can not be put into words… only felt?"" Well, the Little Optimist Sailing Academy has done it again, this time trading…

We Did It! The Little Optimist Trust Honoured by the International Olympic Committee What a massive milestone for The Little Optimist Trust! We are absolutely thrilled to share some incredible…

The day began with a light drizzle, but at the Little Optimist Sailing Academy, we stay optimistic, so a little rain definitely wasn’t going to stop the fun. Our friends…

When the Soccer Buddyz traded a soccer tournament for a Regatta… that’s exactly what went down at The Little Optimist Sailing Academy. ⚓⚽ Some would say it was a sugar…

Another amazing day at the Hout bay yacht club where we invited a joyful bunch from the Hout bay football club for a sail. The boys arrived with high energy…

Super exciting news!! Balance Catamarans joins The Little Optimist as a GOLD Sponsor. We are so grateful for the support and collaboration with this amazing brand and luxury catamaran manufacturer.…

“It’s those ‘thank you for today’ moments…" Most of them never get to see life outside Heideveld. Today is a really big day in some of their lives.” That’s what…

There’s a special kind of silence that happens when you know the answer… but don’t raise your hand. That quiet hesitation, that little voice holding you back. That’s where our…

Multi-Day Program at the Little Optimist 🌊⛵ Our time at the Little Optimist with the learners from Astra Special School has been nothing short of heartwarming and inspiring. Each day…

When Heart Leads, Even Ice-Cold Water Can’t Stop You! This April, the Waterfront Canal became more than just water. It became a space for courage, connection, and community. In collaboration…

Back to school means back to sailing, and what a joyful return it was for our Grade 1 friends from Astra! 🌊⛵️ We kicked off the second quarter with the…

There’s no better way to start a Saturday morning than with a sky full of smiles. On the 11th of April, we had the absolute privilege of spending the day…

Have you ever seen someone sail an Optimist… blindfolded… with a balloon tied on?! Well, if you missed it, it all went down right here at the Little Optimist Sailing…

​Term 2 has just begun, and we kicked it off by welcoming our friends from Vista Nova with a jam-packed, energy-filled day! Our check-in activity was completely different this time,…

⚽⛵ We had a fun day with a group of soccer girls who came to sail at our Hout Bay YC site. For many of them, it was their first…

🌊 The children from Heideveld had a very special day in Hout Bay. For many of them, it was their very first time visiting the ocean and seeing the harbour.…

Day 3 was filled with excitement from the moment the group arrived. The learners came in with big smiles, ready for another fun day together. We started the morning at…

When we say "The Little Optimist Sailing Academy" is where the vibes are, we mean it. Vista Nova Multiday Program – Day 2? On a whole different level. Creativity showed…

On the 17th of March, we had the absolute privilege of spending the day with our young friends from Yada Adventures. We started with a quick check-in, and right away,…

Yoh! This place is beautiful, look at the buildings, and all these big boats. Even the air smells different! Wow! I can’t believe this is where I am today. These…

On the first day of our multi-day program, we welcomed the Vista Nova group, and what a super fun group they were! From the moment they arrived, you could feel…

As part of our Inspiration Day visit at Astra Special School, The Little Optimist crew spent the day connecting with learners from Grade R all the way to Grade 7…

On the 19 February 2026, Joanne Seymour began a 140km, 14-day trek to Everest Base Camp to raise funds for The Little Optimist. Here, Joanne recounts her experience in this…

On the last Saturday of February, The Little Optimist Sailing Academy was where the vibes truly lived. We had the absolute honor of hosting our GOLD sponsor the Southern Wind…

On the 19th of February, we kicked off our very first multiday program for 2026 with the amazing Grade 1 learners from Astra Special School, and what a beautiful start…

Little Optimist Crew Takes on the eXp Realty Fund Run! On the 17th of February, the Little Optimist crew traded in our usual sailing gear for something a little different……

Yada Adventures came to sail with us, and it was a very special day. We started the day with positive “Pickle” messages. These were short, happy words that gave everyone…

On the 19th of February 2026, I, Joanne Seymour, will be embarking on a 140km (14 day trek) circular route from Lukla up to Everest Base Camp tackling freezing temperatures…

What could be better than spending Valentine’s Day surrounded by love, laughter, and community? This Valentine’s Day, we at The Little Optimist Sailing Academy had the incredible pleasure of hosting…

The Amazing Race! Yes, you read that, right 😄 We had the absolute privilege of spending the day with our friends from Vista Nova Special School, now officially members of…

From sailing a Dinghy to stepping onto a Hunter, talk about a summer to remember. On the 2nd of December, our young friend Khanyisa and some of his friends from…

Building Futures with Small BoatsLive now on our Clean Sailors podcast 🎧Dear Sailors,There’s a reason so many of us feel better near the water.As the body of research around Blue…

Teddy Bear Drop-Off: Christmas With a Twist 🎄🧸Christmas is usually filled with laughter, family gatherings, and the comfort of home. But for many children, the festive season looks a little…

A Day of Fun with Laureus at The Little OptimistWe were happy to welcome Laureus to The Little Optimist for a special team building and family day. The day started…

Pausing to Celebrate, Reflect, and Give ThanksAs the year drew to a close, we came together to celebrate our year-end function at the Radisson rooftop pool — a moment not…

Talk about a year!We had the privilege of wrapping the year up with our final one-day programme, welcoming our little friends from Bonteheuwel Sunday School . From the moment the…

This past weekend (28 – 30 November), The Little Optimist Sailing Academy had the incredible opportunity to be part of the very first Surf Expo Africa and what an unforgettable…

This year’s Kommetjie Surf Festival – held on 22 November,  brought together two incredible communities in a day filled with lots of fun on the water. Among the highlights was…

A special day for the Grade 8 boys from Heideveld as they arrived at The Little Optimist to experience sailing for the very first time.From the moment they stepped onto…

3 - 6 November was nothing short of magical! We had the absolute joy of welcoming the Grade 4s from Oranjekloof Primary School for a multi-day adventure over 40 bright,…

The Little Optimist Trust Sailing Therapy program gives over 1,600 children in Cape Town their chance to be on the water Optimist: A person who is inclined to be hopeful…