Latest News

This past Saturday was one for the books, a magical collision of surf, sail, and pure joy at the 9Miles Project! From the moment the Little Optimist sailors swapped sails for surfboards, we knew it was going to be a...

“Over the Easter weekend, from the 17th to the 22nd of April, I had the incredible opportunity to compete in the ILCA 6 Dinghy National Championship—an event that brought together 23 of South Africa’s most skilled sailors. It was an...

Amir Yaghya, captain of the 420 fleet, had the privilege of competing in the Western Cape Championship alongside his sailing partner, Renton Geduld. This regatta was especially meaningful to them as it marked the final event they sailed together as...

We have had more deliveries from Moving Tactics, Ullman Sails as well as Darios in Hout Bay. Adrienne was out and about in Hout bay again – delivering Easter eggs to over 100 kids from Hangberg Sentinel Pre-Primary school. She...

Grade R children from Hout Bay Educare and Wavecrest creche were treated to a sweet surprise this morning. Adrienne, Senior facilitator at The Little Optimist Academy, handed out Easter eggs to the eager and very well behaved kids in Grade...

The Little Optimist Academy team had a heartwarming visit to the New Somerset Hospital, where they handed out Easter marshmallows eggs to the kids. With bright smiles and cheerful energy, they brought a touch of joy and sweetness to the...

The Waterfront Canal Swim was a beautiful mix of courage, joy, and unforgettable memories. One of the swimmers put it perfectly:  “How can I miss this? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience!” Despite life’s challenges, she didn’t let her circumstances define her,...

During the April school holidays, The Little Optimist Sailing Academy hosted an extraordinary 5-day Multi-day program for children from Heideveld and what an unforgettable journey it was! From the classroom to the Canal, every moment was packed with fun, energy,...

The Little Optimist Trust was thrilled to attend the grand opening of Vista Nova Primary School’s brand-new inclusive playground on Wednesday 26 March! Designed to ensure that every learner—regardless of ability—can play, explore, and connect, this incredible space features wheelchair-friendly...

This February, something truly remarkable unfolded. The Ocean Pledge, Roxy Davis Foundation, and The Little Optimist Sailing Academy joined forces to empower over ten young adults from across Cape Town. Many arrived as strangers, some hesitant to even say hello,...

On 3 March we began our Train the trainer with @9milesproject at the #thelittleoptimistsailingacademy. We explored ways to use sailing as a means to teach life lessons and promote growth mindset thinking and living.

This research paper investigates the effectiveness of The Little Optimist’s (NGO) sailing therapy.

The Little Optimist Sailing Academy, based in the Waterfront’s Canal District, is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to empowering special-needs children and at-risk youth through sailing.

It has been a very busy week for the Little Optimist and we are so honoured and proud of our journey and the recognition and reward we are receiving.

Today, just one day after our visit from the IOC & Advancing Olympism delegates, we were honoured to be visited by the French Ambassador for Sport, Samuel du Croquet, from the French Embassy.

Corale and Rebecca from Olympism 365 and the International Olympic Committee flew in from Senegal and Switzerland to visit our Sailing Therapy Academy and programme.

Today was an unforgettable day at our sailing academy as we welcomed a group of enthusiastic kids from Sentinel Oceans Alliance for a fun-filled sailing experience.

Our first multi-day program for our Broadening Horizons 2025 Project, The Going For Gold Programme in collaboration with Roxy Foundation and Ocean Pledge has commenced.

Our founder was invited to speak to the kids starting a new programme at Sentinel Ocean on 7 February.

On 31 January, Dawnay and Aneeqah, The Little Optimist Sailing Academy staff, visited the Heidveld Baptist church creche.

On World Read Aloud Day, Greg visited the Kommetjie Library.

Our founder, Greg Bertish, was invited to be a guest speaker at boot Düsseldorf, the biggest marine/boat show in the world.

We are excited to introduce our three new YES program candidates – kindly sponsored by Laurium Capital.

The Great Optimist Challenge was a GREAT success, thanks to you!

Somewhere out there, possibly in your back garden, is a small type of Optimist dinghy that could change somebody’s life.

Two Oceans Aquarium activation On the 17th and 18th of December The Aquarium Optimist boat set up at the I&J exhibit. Kids enjoyed floating in the boat for charity surrounded by the vast marine life.

Optimist Sailing Academy Manager, Amir, and Sailing Instructor, Renton – sailed in the 420 SA champs and retained their title in 1st place! We are super proud of them and look forward to many more accomplishments in 2025

Italtile in-store activation On the 14th and 15th of December the Italtile Optimist boat was front and centre at the Northgate Italtile store. Customers were given the opportunity to float in the boat for charity and make a small difference.

Moving Tactics – Year End Amazing Race Team Build The Little Optimist Sailing Academy was one of the stops on the Moving Tactics Amazing Race year end Team Building experience.

The Little Optimist Team took some much needed time out to celebrate a successful year. The team as grown this year in people and knowledge and we look forward to 2025 – where BIG things are to come!!

Once again HIIT Fitness has blown us away with their clients generosity and festive spirit. The donation box, which lives permanently at HIIT, is over flowing with plush toys. Before Christmas these teddies will be delivered to kids around Cape...

On the 10th of December , The Little Optimist recently hosted a group of young boys from JAG foundation, Bergvliet Primary, who had never set foot on a sailboat before. The excitement was palpable as they arrived at the dock,...

The Little Optimist Trust received these wonderful letters of gratitude from Simon’s Town learners. We are delighted to hear these kind and thoughtful words.

ARSHAY COOPER is a Rower, Benjamin Franklin award-winning author, the protagonist of the critically acclaimed film “A Most Beautiful Thing,” a Golden Oar recipient for his contributions to the sport of rowing, motivational speaker, and activist, particularly around issues of...

The Kommetjie Festival is an annual highlight in the South Peninsula. This year did not disappoint. The Little Optimist Trust presented The Great Optimist Challenge in collaboration with Komsurf Surfshop. Our famous boat kept hope afloat in a splash pool,...

This year, we hosted four amazing groups of kids from Heideveld, Bonteheuwel, Simon’s Town and the Benjamin Project at the Boatica Boat Show held at the V&A Waterfront. They joined us for an unforgettable experience of sailing, visiting the Aquarium,...

The Heideveld Youth Centre refurb is complete (for now!). They have a fresh coast of paint and a brand new bathroom with a shower. The kids celebrated by having a dance party and sending us the best ‘Thank You’ video...

Scrape, paint, draw, colour in – this is what The Little Optimist and Flyfleet teams accomplished in four days. The Little Optimist Sailing Academy team started the week by scraping the walls and applying a fresh new coat of paint....

Written by: Jan-Hendrik De Villiers Cape Town non-profit organization (NPO), The Little Optimist Trust, is set to hold its sixth annual boat sailing competition to raise funds for its various development projects. The event will take place at the Boatica...

Written by: GoodThingsGuy A Cape Town charity’s annual fund-raising campaign is going global and attracting international attention, with an invitation to South Africa and the rest of the world to take up its new challenge. For the past six years, The...

Construction continues at Heideveld Youth Centre! The tilers have been busy bee’s getting the bathroom walls tiled and grouted. Thank you to Italtile for these beautiful tiles.

Thanks to Marcelle from Sophumelela Sport Centre for partnering with us to invite Hanover Cricket Club for an inspiration day at The Little Optimist Sailing Academy. On the 25th of September the enthusiastic cricketers spent the day sailing, exploring interactive...

Exciting news! The little optimist is thrilled to announce it’s partnership with Ocean pledge, a dynamic initiative dedicated to protecting our oceans . Together, we’re taking action to clean up our canals and ensure a healthier marine ecosystem. On the...

Heideveld Youth Centre is a place where children of the area go to feel safe, do their homework, get a meal and get support. In order to continue serving the community the Centre is in need of a few renovations....

  On the 7th of September at the Little Optimist Sailing Academy was buzzing with excitement as the Delft High Cheerleaders arrived for their first-ever sailing experience!These energetic and spirited young women traded in their pom-poms for life jackets and...

On 31 of August, the Little Optimist Sailing Academy hosted a special Women’s Day event for Delft Grade 12 students. These inspiring young women embarked on their first-ever sailing experience, enjoying the thrill of navigating the waters and bonding with...

On the 17th of August at the Little Optimist Sailing Academy welcomed a vibrant group of young people from various communities for their inaugural sailing experience. Excitement filled the air as they discovered the thrill of sailing. With expert guidance,...

Kids from areas such as Parkwood, Lavender Hill, Seawinds, Pelican Park and Mitchell’s Plain who all attend the River Church Youth Group had an exciting outing to The Little Optimist Sailing Academy. “The opportunity to go on the boats and...

9Miles Project is a community-based non-profit organization that was founded in Cape Town in 2013.Using surfing as a form of engagement and empowerment, 9Miles provides safe spaces and structured afterschool programs for at-risk children and youth in coastal communities; and...

Oranjekloof kids learning to sail with The Little Optimist Sailing Therapy Academy We would like to thank Independent Online for their article: Underprivileged children to reap reward as The Little Optimist Trust wins top grant We are absolutely delighted to...

The Little Optimist Trust, a non-profit organization in Cape Town, has received a €26,000 (R516,087) grant from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as part of the Sustained Insight and Impact Initiative, launched to promote the social impact legacy of the...

Brainstorming with the CrewIt is important for us at The Little Optimist to give every team member an opportunity to share their ideas and ask questions.Our recent discussion was about creating a logic model together as a team, that made...

Erica and Adrienne from The Little Optimist, attended the Monitoring and Evaluation workshop at Laureus Sports for Good in Stellenbosch on the 30 and 31 of July. This was the last of a series of workshops that formed part of...

A San Francisco program is empowering young Guatemalan and Mexican teens through sailing and structured activities. @tiscsailing is fostering mental health, growth mindset, and connection. Inspired by the idea of interconnectedness, the program uses the ocean as a classroom. Sailing...

Renowned adventurer and philanthropist, Greg Bertish, captivated a San Francisco audience yesterday with his extraordinary tale of courage and resilience. The event at Hook Fish Co. featured a screening of the inspiring documentary chronicling Bertish’s audacious journey around the Cape...

Yesterday, the prestigious St. Francis Yacht Club hosted a memorable “Wednesday Yachting Luncheon,” featuring an inspiring talk by Greg. Kathy Trafton, Vice Chair of the Wednesday Yachting Luncheon and Special Speakers Series, expressed her gratitude for Greg’s impactful presentation. She...

This Mandela Day, one of our very own team members, Adrienne, embraced the spirit of giving and embarked on a special mission to Hout Bay Educare. Her goal? To share the joy of storytelling and leave a lasting impression on...

Yesterday, the Little Optimist team set off on an adventure that wasn’t on the water – but it was definitely all about making a positive impact! We were thrilled to be invited by JICS to Catkin High School to host...

This Monday, the Little Optimist Trust got an electrifying boost when Verity Price, the renowned public speaking champion, graced us with her presence! Ms. Price, the first South African and only the sixth woman ever to win the World Champion...