Bay Sailing Academy enjoyed getting involved with The Little Optimist Global Challenge. The challenge was in aid of the Little Optimist Trust. The Little Optimist Trust was established by Greg Bertish and is registered as a Public Benefit Organisation and an NPO. Greg is also a survivor of a rare heart disease that was contracted when he was 30 years old. As a result of his long hospital stay, Greg was inspired to stay positive in order to survive and thrive. This message is conveyed to children through The Little Optimist Trust.
Greg is also an ambassador of the NSRI.
Mark Dawson and Riaan du Toit (both active sailors at Sailing PE) embraced the challenge and saw as an opportunity to support and raise funds for the Little Optimist Trust as well as our local NSRI Station 6. The plan for the challenge was to sail the optimist dinghy, a boat designed for children, as per the Global Challenge. Usually, a race was held in Cape Town by sailors, celebrities, survivors during the annual boat show. Unfortunately due to COVID, the boat show was cancelled. However, the opportunity to sail it globally was a fantastic opportunity. To add to the challenge, Mark & Riaan decided to sail from the newly established Noordhoek NSRI station to Station 6 in the harbour.
Initial attempts were stymied due to excessive wind and wave conditions. Eventually, the perfect conditions prevailed and 9 optimists were launched by Station 6A to sail along the “wildside” of Port Elizabeth, around Thunder Bolt reef to the beachfront area of Hobie Beach and Shark Rock Pier. The sailors were escorted by two keelboats, namely Nemesis and Macan as well as the SA Sailing Rescue Craft driven by Gordon van Zyl and William Pierce-Jones. NSRI were ever-present and supported the sailors all the way.
The support from fellow sailors and friends managed to raise approximately R30 000. A hugely successful event indeed.
