Optimist of the Month

Rivaldo started his sailing career in optimists being part of 6 sailors selected from Du Noon. Immediately out of the 6 he showed the most potential. Of the 6 he was the only one to persevere with sailing and he genuinely loves to sail.

Rivaldo has competed all over the country competing in all the Grand Slams as well and Regional Championships and Nationals as well as Mirror Worlds.

Rivaldo out grew his Optimist at 13 after sailing it for 4 years and moved onto the Laser. He was quickly spotted by Roger Hudson and Asanathi Jim from Race Ahead and invited to join their program. He competed in the 2017 Sonnet Nationals with Roger where they placed second.

Rivaldo was then selected to compete in the 2017 Youth Worlds in Sanya, China, with Benji Daniels on a 420. With only 2 months to prepare they achieved a middle of the fleet finish in a highly competitive competition on a boat neither had sailed before.

Most recently Rivaldo sailed his Laser 4.7 into first place overall at Hermanus Classic Regatta.

Rivaldo is always smiling and cheerful and is the first person there when you need help. He is a true inspirational sailor.

When I first met Sean about 6months ago he was sailing in the B-fleet at ZVYC. But within 3 months of watching him improve Sean ended up in 3rd position at nationals which is a great achievement. I’ve never seen anyone improve so quickly and understand the sport so well and that is why I feel he should be sailor of the month.

In April 2016 Greg Bertish sailed an 8 foot Children’s Optimist dinghy around the Cape of Storms. He crossed False Bay, rounded Cape Point and headed for Langebaan Lagoon on the wild West Coast. His 200-kilometre journey matched the 200 days he had spent in hospital fighting life-threatening heart infections.

He raised R300 000 towards a new Intensive Care Unit at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. Greg hopes this journey of a REAL Little Optimist and his Children’s book about a little believer with a HUGE heart,will help teach kids that being small, sick, poor or different is OK. And prove that they too can survive and thrive. His  story will inspire kids and the world to believe in themselves, get better, be better and follow their passions and dreams.

Greg Bertish is a big wave surfer and a South African Champion Lifesaver and Stand Up Paddle Boarder.

He is an ambassador for the Children’s Hospital Trust and the National Sea Rescue Institute,and founder of the Shark Spotter Program. He has helped raise over R2 million for these charities to date.

He has achieved all of this as a Multiple Heart surgery survivor and patient. He continues to promote conservation, water safety, healthy living and optimism.

He is supported and empowered by Warwick Wealth, to go out there and Just Do Good!

Thank you for choosing an Optimist in your endevour to make a difference. We salute you!

Be an Optimist & Never Ever Give Up!

The Little Optimist http://thelittleoptimist.org/