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…

What a day to remember – RMB corporate family day!The sun was scorching hot at Webersburg Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, but that didn’t stop the little sailors from hopping into…

Heideveld Multiday programme - Fears faced, challenges conquered.During the October school holidays, the kids from Heideveld Baptist were welcomed to attend our special mental health week program. A week filled…

What was planned as a simple day out turned into an unforgettable experience for 56 enthusiastic kids, from energetic energizers to an amazing time on the water. Despite the unexpected…

Zeekoevlei sailing centre blog from Josh September with the JP 21 FoundationFrom the moment the kids arrived, there was a buzz in the air. Many of them were stepping onto…

One of our amazing team members from The Little Optimist Sailing Academy recently participated in the Little Lions Fellowship. Together with her team, they hosted a child-friendly “Sip & Paint”…

🌊 Vista Nova Multi-Day Sailing Program — Day 1 to Day 3 Highlights 💙The Vista Nova Multi-Day Sailing Program has been an incredible journey from the very first day —…

A Day on the Water with Eros Special SchoolToday was one of those truly heartwarming days at the Little Optimist Sailing Academy. We had the privilege of welcoming a group…

The Little Optimist Sailing Academy was recently visited by the students of Vista Nova School. A group of differently abled kids who kept the team on their toes. The teens…

On the 20th of September, we had the joy of hosting the Ocean Pledge for a one-day program, and what an unforgettable day it was!We started off with a trip…

Their final day of fun at our sailing academy !!What an amazing journey it has been with our young friends from Astra special school, that have officially wrapped up their…

Jabulani Rural Health Foundation Project in collaboration with The Little Optimist Trust and ItaltileA note from the beneficiary:In early 2025, Jabulani Rural Health Foundation was delighted to partner with The…

This past week marked a special milestone as we officially launched our very first pilot site at Zeekoevlei. The day was filled with excitement, energy, and a spirit of unity…

It was a day to remember as the Sentinel Oceans Group joined with the Hout Bay Yacht Club team and the incredible crew from The Little Optimist Trust for a…

The day unfolded when a group of incredible young adventurers from Astra special school joined us at The Little Optimist Sailing Academy for their very first sailing experience.For many of…

From cheers to sails - girl power at its finest.The empowered woman is powerful beyond measure and beutiful beyond description.- Steve Maraboli.In the middle of Women's month, the academy was…

The Grade 11 boys from Heideveld had a day filled with fun, learning, and new experiences. From the start, it was clear that the boys carried their own unique stories…

Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity that our learners experienced.They came running back after the taxis dropped them at school to thank us for the opportunity.Even the EA…

The 26th of July marked the first official Hout Bay pilot site programme.The day started with hot chocolate and hugs. The children arrived early and were filled with excitement, as…

A Beautiful Beginning: Our Children's Church Ministry Feeding Programme LaunchYesterday (27 July) marked a very special day for our children's ministry and community — we officially started our Feeding Programme,…

From Wobbly Decks to Brave HeartsThere’s something truly magical about watching a group of young people find their confidence on water, and last week’s visit from Marsh Memorial was nothing…

18 July – Mandela DayThe Little Optimist was invited to by the V&A Waterfront to take part in their One Community initiative.We were amongst 10 organisations who came together at…

What does it truly mean to “dare to dream”? In this inspiring episode of Our voice, our future, we speak with Greg Bertish, heart surgery survivor, adventurer, author of The…

At The Little Optimist Trust , we believe every young person deserves the chance to unlock their full potential. On this special day, we celebrate the incredible power of skills…

Just wrapped up an unforgettable sailing trip from Durban to Cape Town and wow... what an experience.Started the journey at Point Yacht Club in Durban — setting up the sails,…

My Journey from Durban to Cape TownSo the journey started the day we flew to Durban. This was the first flight in my life, I was very excited and eager…

Offshore Durban To Cape Town Sailing Trip.When one thought became reality. So far throughout my Sailing career I have never had an opportunity to do a boat delivery, as well…

I want to extend my deepest thanks to Bruce Tedder for giving me and my three boys the incredible opportunity to be part of a journey aboard the boat set…