Winter may have arrived in Cape Town, South Africa but that didn’t stop a group of Mitchells Plain children from discovering the joy that sailing and the sea can offer.

Instilling a love of all things ocean-related, as well as a host of other important life skills, was the aim of a unique sailing therapy day for 10 boys and girls from the 9 Miles Project, held at the V&A Waterfront on Saturday, 22 May.

© Colin Fitch Photography

The 9 Miles Project, which works with youth from impoverished coastal communities, was invited to attend the inaugural event by program host and facilitator Greg Bertish. Bertish is a well-known charity campaigner who runs the Little Optimist Trust, which focuses on inspiring vulnerable children.

The children, most of whom had never sailed or even been in a boat before, were taught the basic principles of sailing and boating such as wind direction and knot tying. They spent time on the water with instructors, and by the end of the day, all were given the opportunity to skipper their own sailing boats.

“At first I was a bit scared, but once I learned how to sail, I enjoyed it so much,” said 12-year-old Jordan Paulse.

“To see these nervous and scared kids transform into happy, confident, positive, and skilled little sailors and ocean ambassadors was truly amazing. We know they will take this back to their families and communities, and will spread the messages of optimism, ocean health, and water safety,” said Bertish.

Water safety was a key element of the day’s program and included instruction about knowing where to swim, ocean currents, and how to remain calm in an emergency. Ocean health, plastic pollution, and sustainability were also covered, and the day included a tour of the Two Oceans Aquarium.

The program also goes beyond practical sailing and water skills and aims to encourage self-belief and independence in its young participants. “Today was absolutely phenomenal,” said 9 Mile Coach Pearle Jenneker. “The kids started out really nervous but ended up not wanting to leave or get out the boats. They learned so many new things today – about boats, positive thinking, and that they can do ‘big things’. It was really inspiring and lots of fun.”

The Sailing Therapy Day was the first in a series of similar events to be held between May and July as part of a partnership between the Little Optimist Trust and the V&A Waterfront. Ullman Sails is a proud sponsor of the Little Optimist Trust. The Trust is looking for more sponsors to assist in making this a permanent program, with the aim of inspiring more than 400 at-risk kids annually.