Broward Yacht Rendezvous Returns to Pier Sixty-Six in November

Yacht community returns to Pier Sixty-Six for its 37th fundraiser

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County Yacht Rendezvous is preparing to bring yacht owners, crews and supporters back to Fort Lauderdale's Pier Sixty-Six on 6 and 7 November 2026. The event's 37th edition will combine a Friday evening dockside yacht hop with a Saturday black-tie gala, directing its fundraising towards after-school support and opportunities for children and teenagers in South Florida.

The organisers say the Yacht Rendezvous has raised more than $30 million over its history. That cumulative figure is not a fundraising result for November 2026, because this year's gathering has yet to take place, but it does demonstrate why the programme remains an established date in the region's yachting calendar.

A fresh October interview with event co-chairs Jessica and Mike Busacca and Carla Taylor places particular emphasis on encounters between visiting donors and the young people who benefit from the clubs. Rather than treat a yacht tour solely as an opportunity to entertain guests, the organisers want the occasion to help supporters understand the role of mentorship, learning facilities and dependable after-school provision.

The programme places conversations aboard yachts alongside the gala

Friday's programme is scheduled to open with guest registration and hospitality before the dockside party and yacht hop from 6pm to 10pm. Visitors will be able to spend time around participating yachts and speak with owners and guests in an environment designed to encourage informal introductions as well as structured fundraising.

The following day turns towards a gala dinner, auctions and entertainment. The organisers' current programme lists appearances by singers Mike Posner and Robin Thicke, although guests making travel plans should consult the official event schedule for changes to specific activities and access arrangements as November approaches.

The programme reflects the particular appeal of a yacht-based charity event. Vessels provide a distinctive setting, but the fundraising purpose depends on supporters making lasting financial and personal commitments after the weekend ends. It is the relationship between yacht owners, the local community and the clubs that provides continuity from one edition to the next.

Event registration is separate from public attendance at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which concludes on 1 November. The Yacht Rendezvous takes place the following weekend at Pier Sixty-Six, and prospective visitors should not assume that a boat-show admission ticket also includes this charity gathering.

Where the donations are intended to make a difference

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County provide safe spaces and programmes for children and young people, including educational support, opportunities to develop skills and activities that would otherwise be difficult for some families to access. The organisation sees regular mentorship and the chance to explore new interests as a foundation for future independence.

In their October interview, the co-chairs described experiences of visiting clubs and seeing facilities used for homework, sport, media projects and career preparation. Those encounters help explain why the Yacht Rendezvous gives participating children and teenagers a role in the weekend's conversations and presentations rather than treating them as distant beneficiaries.

For a yacht owner considering participation, the most useful question may be how the club programmes use sustained funding over a complete year. A successful gala can generate a headline figure, but maintaining staff, buildings, learning equipment and reliable access for families depends on contributions that carry on well beyond the event itself.

Last year's 36th Yacht Rendezvous raised more than $2 million, according to the 2025 report issued by Fraser, one of the supporters of that edition. This result is historical context only, not a forecast or an announced achievement for the 2026 fundraiser. The photograph accompanying this preview also comes from the 2025 gala and is identified accordingly.

What yacht owners and visiting guests should know

The organisers publish separate registration categories for participating yachts, tables and individual attendees. The current schedule gives yacht registration tiers based on length, while Friday and Saturday individual tickets and weekend packages are priced separately; the official registration page is the appropriate source for the latest terms and available places.

The event co-chairs are Carla Taylor together with Jessica and Mike Busacca, and the organisers name businessman Felix Sabates as honorary chair. Their involvement reflects a long relationship between the boating industry and the charity rather than sponsorship of any specific yacht or a promise about which vessels will attend.

Putting young people and waterfront hospitality in the same programme requires careful organisation. Captains and marina staff must balance scheduled visits and guest movement with ordinary operational priorities, while the charity manages the programme, donor arrangements and safeguarding of its participating club members.

The latest information is therefore best read as a confirmed invitation to participate, not a post-event fundraising report. The event has yet to take place, no final 2026 total is available, and participating yacht lists may change before November. What remains established is the purpose: bringing the yachting community into direct contact with an organisation supporting young people throughout Broward County.