Sailing Magazine
So What’s the Challenge?
We challenge you, your friends, your family, your colleagues, your kids and any sailor in South Africa and the world to sail an Optimist Dinghy for charity.
Where?
On any body of water, anywhere in the world, in any Optimist dinghy, between 9 – 18 October. Enter, raise funds for charity, track your distance sailed, have fun and help inspire at-risk youth.
This Year it’s A Covid-19 Inspired Challenge
Covid has forced many a business to think out of the box, and in the case of a Cape Town-based Little Optimist Charity Trust, it’s a case of testing new waters.
For the past two years the by-invitation-only Great Optimist Race has been held in Cape Town, and has involved experienced sailors, celebrities and medical survivors sailing for charity and the work of the Little Optimist Trust. But the Covid pandemic meant the postponement of Boatica Cape Town 2020, the traditional race host.
Instead of completely cancelling the race, a new, global “Covid-compliant” challenge has been launched. This year, sailors of any age from across the country and around the world will be able to sign up for The Little Optimist Global Race, and raise funds for charity at the same time.
Anyone who has ever sailed an Optimist dinghy has been invited to take part in the inaugural 2020 charity event. It is open to anyone of any age, anywhere in the world – as long as you can sail an Optimist Dinghy, and can participate between 9 and 18 October.
Participants will be required to sail their “Opti” for an hour or more – on any body of water, anywhere in the world – during the race window of 9 – 18 October. Each boat entered will be able to raise funds for charity, which will be split between the sailor’s chosen cause, and the Little Optimist Trust, which hosts sailing therapy days for marginalised children.
“I’m so excited to challenge everyone to climb into a Little Optimist children’s dinghy, and sail it for charity, fun and inspiration,” says Greg Bertish, the founder of the Little Optimist Trust. “Even Covid will not stop the Little Optimist and his friends from sailing to raise funds for our foundation and many others.”
Challenge your sailing friends, challenge your fellow sailing schools, challenge your fellow sailing clubs and raise funds for your favourite cause. If you don’t have access to an Optimist, there are hiring options, at clubs all over South Africa and the world. Or register to use one of the Trust’s Optimists in Cape Town free of charge. And non-sailors can also sponsor their sailing friends – so everyone can be part of this historic event!
The Optimist Dinghy
Optimist dinghy sailing is one of the biggest sailing classes in the world – there is a network of more than 150 000 registered Optimists in 120 countries around the globe.
Many people – including great sailors, CEOs, sports-people, celebrities, moms, dads and kids around the world – first learned to sail in an Optimist dinghy, and those first-sailing experiences on the fantastic little Optimist dinghy still hold a special place in many of their hearts.
It’s your chance to jump back into an Optimist dinghy in aid of our Foundation (The Little Optimist Trust) or a charity close to your heart. Sail for your charity, sail for fun and sail to inspire!
The Little Optimist Trust has a sailing academy at Cape Town’s Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club where their Optimist dinghy fleet will be ready on selected days between 9 – 18 October.
Contact us and book a time to sail for charity! But anyone else around the country and the world with access to an Optimist can also take part.
Race entry Fee is R150.
