This year’s Superyacht Charities Ball was another resounding success, raising £90,000 for charity. An astounding £850,000 has been raised in six years.
This year’s event on 16 March, partnered by BOAT International, saw more than 500 of yachting's power players get behind some truly worthy causes: Team Endeavour Racing which provides powerboat racing for wounded, injured and recovering service personnel and veterans; Oceans For Hope, a charity which introduces people with, or impacted by MS to sailing; Oarsome Chance, helping disadvantaged young people in the Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant areas and SYC’s grassroot charity Cash 4 Causes, which aims to help the growth of smaller non-government funded not-for-profit organisations.
Headline sponsors for the night were Döhle Yachts, Lürssen, LA Marine, ISC, Peninsula, Oyster, Refit International and Starboard. Fendequip sponsored the event programme.
The night got off with a flying start with pre-dinner drinks and a brief welcome from the Chairperson, followed by a three-course banquet and live auction sponsored by Njord by Bergman Design House, with prizes including a VIP experience to see Ronan Keating at Kew Gardens and hospitality tickets at Newbury Races. The after-dinner raffle sponsored by Cecil Wright saw one lucky recipient win a skippered day onboard for four people with Flexisail Boat Club.
Guests danced until the early hours at the Mary’s Stadium in Southampton. A fancy-dress photo booth with bubbles proved to be quite the star attraction with party goers.
Founded in 2015, Superyacht Charities continues to grow year on year. The charity hosts up to six events per year for charitable causes including the annual Cricket Challenge, the Seafarers Supper in Palma and an Antigua Sundowners soiree for the Antigua Yacht Show. The Superyacht Charities Ball has become a firm fixture on the annual yachting calendar.
Superyacht Charities has a varied events programme with plenty of initiatives under its umbrella. For more details, you can visit their website.