Black Yacht Day, the Miami celebration that began as a single yacht trip, is back for a three-day run on Nov. 6-8, with tickets starting at $185. Founded in 2024 by Shakyra Chrysostome and three cofounders, the event is now big enough to draw attendees from outside Miami. Its organizers also have a $5,000 city competition win to show for the momentum.
According to the Miami Herald, the event was created to encourage Black Miamians to find joy and a sense of belonging on the water. It has since evolved into a three-day celebration. Organizers charter yachts for ticketed guests, and attendees can also bring their own boat or yacht.
The ticketed yachts each feature their own themes, with music ranging from current hip-hop to classic R&B, the Herald reports.
Four Cofounders, One Goal
Chrysostome is 30, grew up in West Little River and has said she seldom went to the beach as a kid. She graduated from Florida A&M University in 2016, began a communications career and later moved back to Miami. Her three cofounders bring different backgrounds to the table.
Adam Payne is a Houston native who worked in finance and had a similar goal of building community. Alexis Brown is a Miami event curator and the founder of SocialXchange Miami, an event production company. Andrew Scott owns the boat rental company iPartyboat Rentals.
Together, the four aimed to help connect Black people in South Florida who wanted to enjoy Miami's waters. This year has already seen a spring sail and a Juneteenth event.
A $5,000 Win at Casa Matilda
In August, the team entered Pitch the Beach, a competition hosted by the city of Miami Beach at Casa Matilda, a Black-owned Miami Beach steakhouse. The group, competing as Sail La Vie: Black Yacht Day, won and took home a $5,000 prize.
Payne said the victory validated the team's work. “That proves that what we’re doing is sustainable, and it means something,” he said in the Herald's account. Steven Anthony, Miami Beach's economic development director, said the win reflected greater visibility and connections for Black entrepreneurs, along with potential economic and cultural contributions.
Glendon Hall, chairman and cofounder of the Miami Beach Black Affairs Advisory Committee, has lived on the beach for 25 years. He wants to see more events for Black people in Miami Beach and across Miami, and said the city should expand the Black experience. Hall also said Black Bahamian people built Miami Beach and should not be excluded from it.
Regulars and Room to Grow
Maiy Cade, 45, is a Boston native who has lived in Miami since 2021. She is preparing for her third Black Yacht Day, and says the event offers a space catered to Black attendees.
Chrysostome plans to expand the brand around South Florida. “That could include water safety and beach events and even pool parties,” she said, though the Herald describes those ideas as possibilities rather than confirmed plans. She added that more frequent events could expose both young people and older generations to the water more often and encourage more people to yacht.
Boating's Changing Face
The push comes as boating's demographics shift. BlackAmericaWeb reports that many Black Americans, especially in the Carolinas and Florida, are increasingly changing the face of the average boat owner. It cites a 2022 National Marine Manufacturers Association report that found most boat owners were high-income or high-net-worth white men with a median age of 54.
The outlet adds that culturally focused marine clubs and social media events have increasingly made boating a part of Black life. Similar gatherings exist elsewhere, too. Travel Noire notes that Black Yacht Weekend, which first set sail in 2020, has been growing in popularity, with more than 5,000 participants in 2024.
