Suffering from the effects of a hangover, the Optimist (Enn Reitel) watches a windsurfing documentary on television and starts to dream he’s part of the exotic scene. In his fantasy, he meets a beautiful Girl (Sharron Davies) as well as a Rival (David Fletcher) for her affections.

 

During his misadventures on the beach, in the nightclub and on the surfing board, the Optimist falls in love with the Girl and faces a surfing challenge from his Rival. The outcome is quite a surprise.

ENN REITEL
the optimist

SHARRON DAVIES
the girl

DAVID FLETCHER
the rival

LEXIE NEAL
the coach

LIZ WEAVER
SARAH RICHARDS
GARY  VAUGHAN McMILLEN
MARK A BROWN
JENNY OKUN
windsurfers

director

PETER ELLIS

producer

ROBERT SIDAWAY

written by

RICHARD SPARKS

additional material

ENN REITEL

PETER ELLIS
ROBERT SIDAWAY

director of photography

PETER APPLETON

music composed by

DAVID SPEAR

edited by

PETER APPLETON

JOHN DANIELS

executive producer

JOHN BRITTANY

associate producers

FRANCISCO KING

PAUL MADIGAN

assistant camera

STUART ABJORNSEN

technical assistant

ASHLEY SIDAWAY

2nd unit director

RODGER PARKER

2nd unit cameraman

TOM EVANS

2nd unit assistant cameraman

GARY FINLAN

assistant editors

PAUL LYNN

ASHLEY SIDAWAY

make-up

SALLY CHILDS

visual consultant

MICHAEL MINAS

production assistants

CLAIRE APPLETON

MELISSA SCHLEGEL

assistants to producer

EMMA DAWSON

CYRILL BELL

New Century Films production
with Charisma Films
for Channel 4

filmed on location in
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
August 1981

our thanks to

Mistral Windsurfing A.G.

Mazda Cars and Frank Usher

Solmar Hotel and Louis Bulmes