The Great Optimist Race in conjunction with Boatica is back!
Following a two-year break as a result of the global pandemic, the Little Optimist Trust is delighted to announce that the event will once again take place at Cape Town’s annual Boat Show, Boatica, on Saturday the 29th of October.
Pictured above: Greg Bertish
This year will see 15 hand-picked elite little optimist dinghies race for glory.
They will be sailed by celebrities, captains of industry and medical survivors Cape Talk’s Pippa Hudson and Adventurer Riaan Manser will be leading the celebrities, with two time winner and shark encounter survivor Caleb Swanepoel back in his Two Oceans Marine Boat.
Other contenders include double lung transplant survivor Tanya Bothma , stroke survivor Hilton Swanson and CEO Gareth Leck. Others who will be returning to the start line include big wave surfer Matt Bromley.
Little Optimist Trust Founder Greg Bertish will again be a favourite and says, “This year is going to be fast and furious and all in the name of raising funds for the Little Optimist trust and other charities“.
Picture: Grant Scholtz
Not only will the race serve as one of the highlights on Boatica’s calendar, but funds raised will be poured back into the ongoing sailing therapy offered by the Little Optimist Trust’s sailing academy at Battery Park.
The academy teaches sailing skills to disadvantaged, sick and marginalised children, giving them much-needed confidence and joy.
Members of the public are invited to bring family and friends, young and old, to the Academy’s sailing clinic at Boatica. They will be offering a sailing experience and lessons on 28, 29 and 30 October, in conjunction with South African Sailing.
To sponsor or back a boat for the race for charity donate here:
www.backabuddy.co.za/charity/profile/tgor2022
Combined the sailing champions have raised R65 000 towards their collective fundraising target of R380 000 on BackaBuddy with the support of 59 donors.
Picture: The Little Optimist
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