Transforming lives through sailing at Hout Bay Yacht Club

The wind around Hout Bay Yacht Club carries more than just the sound of waves.

It carries the laughter of children who, through The Little Optimist Trust, have found a safe harbour and a second home on the water.

The trust, founded by Greg Bertish, works to change young people’s lives by helping them look beyond daily struggles and focus on building a better future.

Part of this mission is the recent partnership with the yacht club, where children from surrounding communities are given the chance to learn how to sail at no cost, removing one of the biggest barriers that often keeps them from the water.

The pilot scheme at Hout Bay Yacht Club aims to show that sailing can be accessible to all, not just the privileged or those living near the water. Organisers hope to expand the programme across the Cape Metropole, and its success is driven by instructors who understand the challenges these children face and the importance of giving them opportunities in unlikely environments.

Howard Leoto, of Masiphumelele, has been a member of the sailing club since his junior school days and has competed in various national and international events. During that time, he has become a skilled sailor on a small dinghy.  

He first found his way to sailing through a school friend, Asenathi Jim, a sailing Olympian.  

Leoto was also motivated by the difficult conditions at home that hold many children back. He decided to take this opportunity and has never looked back since.

He says he found a second home in sailing. He has grown so much in the sport and has had enough experience to be able to share his knowledge with the younger children.  

He feels a strong sense of duty to present the same opportunities to other youngsters who come from less fortunate backgrounds. 

"Mostly it was food that attracted me to come back," he said. 

"Even though my mom was trying hard to support us, sailing was always there, and I found my second home in here."  

The simple act of a meal was a lifeline, a reason to keep going to sailing lessons, but what kept him there was the feeling of belonging and of having a place where he was seen and cared for.

He said the biggest thing that stayed with him during his time with HBYC was the memory of where he came from. He looked down the line and saw the long path he had traveled. He knew he needed to make a change in his community as well.  

"I asked myself as to why can't I give back to the community, having gotten what I was able to get from sailing," he said.  

He said he thought about all the children who may have it harder than he had. 

"They need something to take their mind from what they're dealing with in their households and communities," adding that sailing became his way of offering them that escape, that mental break from daily hardships.

Leoto has a lot to be proud of. He has represented South Africa in World Championships and has won multiple national titles, which helped him get a lot of recognition in the sport.  

He has spent most of his time sailing on a double-handed boat, a boat with two people, which taught him the importance of teamwork and partnership.  

His biggest hope now is for the children he teaches. "I want these kids to get the opportunities and be able to grow in the sport and make it to local events and maybe grow from there," he said, adding that one might think that learning to sail is all that will happen for these children who are given a chance, but it is much more than simply taking a dinghy to the water.  

Many more opportunities come with working within the sport and around the boats. It’s a world of skills and possibilities, he said.

Jadin Bester of Hangberg also started through a school program, which is why it's so important for him to give his time to children who are looking to follow in his footsteps.  

"There is a sea right next to us, but I never knew I could actually be in a boat. I just wanted to try, and I have been here for eight years now," he said.  

The simple act of trying changed his entire life. Jadin has sailed all the way around Cape Point, a challenging feat that very few people can claim. He knows that having been in competitions like that gives him a lot of respect from his community, as he does something so different from everyone else.

Another instructor, Adam Bowles, calls himself a "reactive kid" on his younger days. He has always been around the water, so for him, it was destiny to spend his time in the ocean.  

In Ocean View, where he comes from, sailing is a well-known activity. He got involved early on through a school program, just like his two fellow instructors.  

But like them, he found another joy in playing a role in sharing his experience with the young kids who may not know the many opportunities that come with sailing.  

"If you are a sailor, there is more than one direction you can go to.You can be competitive and sail around the world, but also other opportunities, including what I'm doing, being a sailing instructor," he said.  

For Bowles, the work is about more than just the sport.  

"Having people who come from the same background as me is another thing that motivates me to play a role in being a person to look up to by keeping them busy sailing," he said.

He knows that seeing a role model who understands their life and their struggles can make all the difference in the world. 

He said the Hout Bay Yacht Club has its doors open to young kids of all ages, even those with no experience at all. But it’s not simply about jumping in a boat.  

The program teaches them all that is there to do with boats, learning about the ropes, the knots, the parts of the boat and the science of the wind and tides.  

Working with children from underprivileged communities also comes with its own unique set of challenges.

The club must make sure the children are fed and dressed properly and that they follow all the safety measures that come with the sport.  

It's a huge responsibility and it costs a lot of money and time, he said.  

This is why the HBYC also looks to invite donors and supporters who would like to get involved with the program to get in touch with them as they seek to create the next sailing star.  

To get in touch with the club, send an email to info@hbyc.co.za