yacht aid global

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YachtAid Global

YachtAid Global is the recognized leader in facilitating yachting industry-wide engagement and collaboration for disaster relief and recovery, humanitarian aid, and conservation management efforts across global coastal communities.

About YachtAid Global Since its founding in 2006, YachtAid Global has engaged 250+ yachts across 175+ projects over 25+ countries in timely, agenda-free initiatives, operations, programs, and projects that have saved lives, alleviated suffering, and protected the environment. Using proven expertise in consultation, logistics, and program management, coupled with confidentiality and trust, YachtAid Global engages the yachting community’s generosity and unique assets already in place to execute initiatives, projects, and programs. Through these collaborative efforts, Yacht owners, captains, and crew engage in disaster response activities, delivery of humanitarian aid, and participation in sustainable humanitarian and conservation initiatives. Participants also frequently enjoy spending time serving as volunteers on projects in the communities they visit. All YachtAid Global initiatives, projects, and programs support the Sustainable Development Goals for the 2030 Universal Agenda and enable members of the yachting community to contribute effectively, seamlessly, and discreetly to the regions across the world they visit and enjoy. YachtAid Global Mission

Provide Industry-wide disaster response leadership through logistics management and consultation.

Coordinate the acquisition and delivery of humanitarian aid to coastal communities in need or impacted by natural disasters in collaboration with a global network of volunteers, vetted NGOs, and disaster relief experts.

Coordinate super yachts and crews to provide life-saving disaster response.

Identify and support sustainable local humanitarian initiatives.

Facilitate and promote visiting yachts and yacht crews to volunteer and engage in the communities they visit.

Help yacht owners and industry-related companies expand their philanthropic footprint.

Become Involved or Support YachtAid Global YachtAid Global is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible as a charitable contribution to the fullest extent allowed by law. They are committed to sound stewardship and use contributions to deliver the most effective and sustainable solutions by providing the right aid to the right people at the right time. To support YachtAid Global or learn about YachtAid Global’s mission, initiatives, and opportunities to become involved visit www.yachtaidglobal.org Media inquiries contact: K.C. Wenger, YachtAid Global Public Relations, [email protected] Please Consider Donating Every donation will help YachtAid Global continue to save lives, alleviate suffering, and help make our planet a better place.

YachtAid Global

YachtAid Global is fueled by a team of accomplished, compassionate, staff and volunteer professionals committed to facilitating the support and collaboration of the yachting industry worldwide, for disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and conservation initiatives across global coastal communities.

YachtAid Global’s expertise in consultation, logistics and program management, coupled with our confidentiality and trust, enable members of the yachting community to execute altruistic activities effectively, seamlessly, and discreetly in regions across the globe which they cherish and enjoy.

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YachtAid Global: Pioneering Yacht-Driven Humanitarian Efforts & Ocean Conservation

YachtAid Global (YAG) is a non-profit organization that has made a significant impact on the global humanitarian scene. Founded in 2006, YAG has become a vital link between the yachting community and remote communities in need, providing essential aid and support in times of crisis. Over the years, this organization has built a rich history of compassion, resilience, and dedication.

The inception of YachtAid Global can be attributed to the visionary leadership of Captain Mark Drewelow, who recognized the untapped potential of the yachting industry in addressing global humanitarian challenges. With his deep understanding of both the yachting world and the pressing needs of remote communities, Captain Drewelow established YAG as a platform for yachts to contribute their resources and services to those in need.

YAG’s early years were marked by its efforts to streamline humanitarian aid deliveries across remote communities. By creating a network of supporters, volunteers, and donors, YAG established itself as a reliable and efficient facilitator of aid delivery. The organization’s commitment to transparency and accountability garnered trust from both the yachting community and humanitarian organizations, paving the way for future collaborations.

In the years that followed, YachtAid Global worked tirelessly to enhance its capacity to respond to emergencies promptly. They developed strong relationships with local authorities, NGOs, and relief agencies to ensure effective coordination and maximize the impact of their interventions. With a growing team of professionals who have extensive expertise in both superyacht & non-profit operational service, support and logistics, YachtAid Global quickly became well-known for their efficient and effective disaster relief efforts around the world. From building back better initiatives in continually storm-battered countries like Vanuatu, leading the yachting community’s response in the Bahamas in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian to the expansive clean water access programs throughout the country of Mexico, the team at YachtAid Global continued to look for ways for the yachting community to support, engage and make a substantial positive impact in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. 

In recent years, YachtAid Global has continued to expand its reach and impact. Their interventions have ranged from delivering medical supplies to various remote islands and Ukraine to supporting education initiatives in underserved communities like their sailing school in the Galapagos Islands. YAG’s collaborations with local partners have fostered sustainable development and empowered communities to build a better future. YachtAid Global’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship has also been a key aspect of its work. Recognizing the importance of protecting the marine environment and in support of the worldwide effort to protect 30% of our oceans by the year 2030, a goal adopted by more than 100 countries, YAG launched Operation Swimway which invests in the equipment and science of ocean conservation, while enabling interested owners, guests, and crew to work closely with distinguished members of the scientific community to accelerate the conservation of pelagic species and help protect our oceans.

Looking ahead, YachtAid Global remains committed to its mission of bridging the gap between luxury yachts and humanitarian causes. With each passing year, the organization strives to enhance its operations, expand its partnerships, and further empower remote communities in need. The opportunities ahead for the yachting community to continue to make a positive impact with our oceans, endangered species, and the coastal communities that share with us their land, sea and spirit are endless. With the continued support of yacht owners, captains, crew, charter guests and marine organizations, YachtAid Global continues to push forward and is happy to shoulder the responsibility of stewarding the yachting industry’s humanitarian and conservation efforts. YAG’s journey is a remarkable testament to the potential for positive change when global participation and local knowledge come together to create solutions for a common purpose: changing the world without changing the course .

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Leading the Way With YachtAid Global

Posted April 13, 2022 in Lifestyle by Miriam Cain

Northrop & Johnson talks to Zoran Selakovic from leading Non-Governmental Organization YachtAid Global on their efforts to involve the superyacht industry in humanitarian and conservation aid around the world.

Can you describe YachtAid Global in just one sentence?

YachtAid Global provides unified humanitarian and conservation aid across global coastal communities.

In your view what is the most pressing issue facing our ocean, both immediately and in the longer term?

Climate change presents the greatest threat to ocean health. It is making the ocean hotter, promoting acidification, and making it harder to breathe in them by reducing dissolved oxygen levels.

There are many organizations advocating for ocean conservation. What makes YachtAid Global different?

We focus on the unified approach to ocean conservation – integrating humanitarian and conservation elements. Often humanitarian aspects are left out in pure conservation initiatives, resulting in missed opportunities to change people’s behaviors and to provide benefits for the coastal communities which would motivate them to advance conservation objectives and serve as stewards of ocean.

The yachting industry is inextricably connected to the ocean. What more do you believe that our industry should be doing to promote ocean health?

We should be investing into the education and solutions that protect and preserve the ocean across global coastal communities.

Can yachting ever really be sustainable?

Yes, but only with a very deliberate and focused action that encompasses the entire lifecycle of a yacht – with greater emphasis on yacht operations than currently performed.

How can yacht owners and charterers be an ally in your work?

Yacht owners are in a unique position to set focus and vision for their yachting program, emphasizing corporate social responsibility which empowers yacht captains and crews to participate across our programs. The owner’s contributions and support could also make a direct and measurable impact across coastal communities – even a modest contribution goes a long way. Similarly, charterers who enjoy some of the amazing cruising grounds could consider adding a few hours in one afternoon to join us in a specific initiative in order to experience the local community and culture in a direct and authentic way. Their contribution towards our work across the communities that they visit and enjoy can also go a long way in improving the sustainability of yachting and improve quality of lives for the residents of those communities that host us.

How do you believe that we as individuals can contribute to sustain and protect our ocean?

Small actions add up – and multiply. From not using single use-plastics (or plastics at all) to being aware of how we consume food (where it came from, how it was brought to us, etc.).

How has the pandemic affected your work from an operational and funding point of view?

The pandemic has affected our work significantly, especially in the first year. Since then, we have adapted our operations to be effective and efficient in the new world. Funding was definitely challenged as well – but we’re finding ways to evolve our business development strategies and continue to improve regardless of our current environment and circumstances affected by the pandemic.

Do you think governments are using Covid as an excuse to push ocean conservation to the bottom of their to-do list?

We don’t have any data to cite on this, but if we had to answer it – our answer would be no. Governments have been pushing ocean conservation toward the bottom of their to-do lists for a while – with the private sector stepping in to fill in some of the gaps.

What do you look forward to achieving with YachtAid Global over the next 12 months?

As an organization with a wider mission to provide unified humanitarian, conservation, and disaster relief aid across global coastal communities – we will be standing by ready to engage in times of severe disasters that strike remote coastal communities.

We also have a number of active programs across regions (a public library and a sailing and swimming school in the Galapagos, clean water access across Mexico, Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Philippines, education programs in the Caribbean, marine life, ocean research and conservation across Pacific and Atlantic regions – to mention a few) where we hope visiting yachts will engage with us in order to experience local culture while supporting the work that makes these communities more resilient, sustainable, and improves the quality of life of those residents.

How is YachtAid Global working to reduce plastics in the ocean?

During disaster relief and recovery operations we use yachts to produce and deliver water thus avoiding the need for a large number of plastic containers for water. In non-disaster times we work with communities to setup clean water depots which provide clean water access reducing the need for use of plastic bottles and containers. Many of our humanitarian initiatives have conservation components built in. For example, the public library we’re running at the Galapagos has many conservation education and how-to workshops, and the sailing and swimming school has hands-on lessons on reusables.

Is there one person/ initiative in the yachting arena that you would like to highlight here?

We are working on launching a sailing and swimming school in the Galapagos across all three main islands – San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, and Isabela. This school will provide a way for the local youth to learn to be water-safe (swimming), as well as basic sailing and seamanship. Additionally, the school will connect the local youth with the ocean and their environment, teaching them hands-on about the protection and conservation of the ocean and their home islands. This is a good example of how YachtAid Global strives to carry out unified humanitarian and conservation programs, which improve the lives of local residents across global coastal communities, while making the ocean conservation a natural fit and part of the life for both current and future generations.

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Captain Mark Drewelow: The Vision Driving YachtAid Global

It’s rare to find a charitable organisation co-existing harmoniously as a natural bedfellow to a high performing business, with each one enhancing and building organically on the success of the other.

It is this natural synergy which bonds YachtAid Global, one of the world’s leading disaster relief and recovery networks, and C2C, the US West Coast’s premier superyacht agency.

The common thread between the two is Captain Mark Drewelow, whose vision 15 years ago to enlist his superyacht clients as first responders for disaster relief, humanitarian aid and conservation efforts around the globe has grown into a UN-recognised force for good.

To understand a little of Mark’s passion, drive and ambition, you need to cast back to a childhood which was spent sailing, surfing and literally living life on the ocean wave.

“I come from a military family, my father was a marine fighter pilot, and as the marine bases are always on the ocean, I grew up in Florida, Hawaii and Southern California,” says Mark, who is based in the San Diego area.

Captain Mark Drewelow

“I went sailing every weekend and grew up body surfing and surfing as a young kid, becoming a lifeguard at 15. I really believe the sea runs through my veins!”

Mark’s yachting career started by happy accident during a six month European bike tour which ended in southern Spain with him considering his best options on how to stay for longer.

“I camped on the beach in Puerto Banus and was told I could find work on the yachts in the harbour,” he recalls. “I got on my first yacht in the summer of 1984, making $100 a week, which was huge money then! I did two summer seasons in Europe and got to know exactly how the yachting industry worked.”

Within three years of landing a job as deckhand, he had graduated to mate engineer on a 107ft wooden motor yacht later renamed Dorothea, where he remained for 14 years, working his way up to captain. He came to the realisation after 10 years circumnavigating the world and taking in 70 countries that it was time to go ashore and come up with a way to give back to the communities and people he’d visited.

Captain Mark Drewelow in his element

Mark created C2C with an overriding desire to be corporately responsible and a clear objective to connect to the communities that had hosted him, his crew and his owners. That dream became a reality in May 2006 when he realised that C2C’s clients could become an efficient pipeline to move humanitarian and conservation aid around the world.

“We knew our client base was reliable and captains had a high level of trust in C2C that we were not going to take advantage of the situation,” he explains. “YachtAid Global was born and essentially, it takes advantage of inefficiencies in existing systems for human good.

“We get contacted by boats who want to join us and make a difference and we also reach out to those we know about a specific conservation programme in an area the boat is known to frequent to ask if the crew would like to get involved.

“When we see that an area is about to become a tsunami or disaster zone, we ping our network of boats to find out who can be ready to respond.”

Sawyer water filters used in various operations

With hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of state-of-the-art megayachts at their disposal - as well as all the additional assets on board - there are various levels of engagement that owners, crew and volunteers can sign up for.

“The very minimum is information, providing a contact, a donation of funds or a donation in kind,” says Mark. “At the other end of the spectrum, we are donated temporary use of assets.

“We’ve had more than one occasion when a superyacht is engaged with us doing high level disaster relief. As well as the vessel itself, it can extend to the onboard helicopter, the crew, flight operations, onboard communications and engineering capabilities. When a superyacht gets engaged in disaster relief, everything is on offer.”

YachtAid Global partners with over 200 leading yachting companies, relief networks, agencies and charities to coordinate relief, conservation and aid effort and Mark acknowledges that none of it would be possible without his highly dedicated core team of Captain Zoran Selakovic, Matt Zall and K.C. Wenger.

“It’s taken years of work to build up this worldwide network and YAG is now known at a UN level in the disaster relief space and is gaining more of a following in the conservation space too,” explains Mark.

MY Umbra was used in the Ecuador relief operation

“The network of people involved with us is growing on its own. We have an evergreen programme of constant outreach to build that network out, based on where the yacht traffic is going. Our efforts are focused on where most of the yacht traffic is, if these are areas that could possibly need some help, as well as mainstream places too.

“Putting together a first response to a disaster effort is where the time consuming part comes in, it’s an all hands on, crazy, emotional time for us.”

Mark’s passion for YachtAid Global knows no bounds. He self-funded the charity for 11 years both personally and through C2C, adding: “We never wanted to get stuck for the sake of a few thousand dollars so I would write the cheque and make it happen.

“In the last three years, the fundraising mechanism has kicked in and is stable so my personal financial support of YAG has stopped. Donations come in from the yachting community and the public and we create specific projects for our YAG clients based on what they want to do, with proposals put in front of owners or family offices detailing exactly what is involved.”

With so many potential causes to support, it can be a tough call to pinpoint exactly where aid should be directed and a key criterion is whether the location is frequented by superyachts.

“If not, we have to then look at how we can add value by not being there or having people on the ground,” adds Mark. “Sometimes making intros and stepping aside is a huge benefit to people in getting things done. What guides us is providing the right aid for the right people at the right time. If one of those pillars is not in place, the project is doomed to failure.”

This decision-making matrix has been a winner thus far; since 2006, more than 250 yachts have been involved in 175 projects across 25 countries but it was only six years ago that YAG’s disaster relief programme for Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu, an archipelago of over 80 islands in the South Pacific, really put the charity on the map.

“A big turning point happened when MY Dragonfly asked us what they could do to help,” says Mark. “At the time, we weren’t really known by the UN or disaster management in Fiji and it was a huge undertaking to get the authorities to understand our capabilities.

With multiple other ongoing projects including operations Jade in Central America, Beagle in the Galapagos, and Viti in Fiji, a couple of success stories stand out. Operation Quartz in Porto Escondido in Mexico provides filtered drinking water to thousands of people daily and Operation Topaz in The Bahamas is a long-term project to repair damage caused by Hurricane Dorian. YAG’s latest renovation work includes completion of a school playground.

It’s a natural human desire to want to help someone in crisis yet many might think that the average yacht owner is too busy with their own demanding lives to worry. In Mark’s experience, however, this could not be further from the truth. “There are always obstacles and challenges, from changing schedules to weather issues to things breaking, but they always want to do more,” he says.

“Owners realise that they have an obligation to help those in the communities they visit. As an industry, we have an obligation to care and give back to the people that give us their land, their sea and their spirit.

“The biggest impact we can make is through education. If we can educate kids to grow up understanding the importance of humanitarian issues and conservation, that’s the key. When kids tell their parents what to do, that works.”

Mark’s can-do attitude extends to his downtime too, and he surprised himself in recent years by becoming a champion bodysurfer. “I’ve been bodysurfing since I was five, I’m competitive but I only entered my first competition in 2016 in Brazil,” he recalls with a laugh.

“I was the old guy, the grandpa, but I finished in fourth place! The following year, I entered the World Bodysurfing Championships in the US and won my age division as a dark horse.

“I’m in the water every morning catching waves, it’s the only time I’m unplugged. I’m now in with the chance of winning the California BodySurf Tour, where I’m ranked third and am competing against kids young enough to be my grandkids!”

Meet Artefact Captain Aaron T. Clark

Alex rogers of rev ocean is saving the seas, a collaboration between rossinavi and parley.

Y.CO Partners with YachtAid Global

Yachting with greater purpose.

YachtAid Global

Yachting With Greater Purpose

Y.CO has partnered with YachtAid Global, a non-profit organisation, to address some of yachting's biggest sustainability challenges. The collaboration will provide the necessary resources and training for the Y.CO team to coordinate the participation of Y.CO Managed yachts in YachtAid Global's roster of projects, which spans humanitarian aid, disaster relief and conservation initiatives in fragile coastal communities.

A Team-Led Partnership

In addition to the Y.CO Fleet taking part in these programmes, Y.CO also sponsors team members’ participation in YachtAid Global Operations, and several Y.CO team members have already volunteered on the ground with a number of initiatives. Additionally, the Y.CO Yacht Management team have received specialist training from YachtAid Global to be able to coordinate our managed yachts' participation in these initiatives.

Humanitarian, Disaster Relief and Conservation Efforts

Humanitarian & Disaster Relief Affairs

Humanitarian initiatives improve sustainability and resilience of coastal communities visited by yachts – from education, literacy, clean water access and medical assistance to disaster relief and recovery from natural disasters.

Ocean & Marine Life Conservation

YachtAid Global conservation programs & expeditions advance the science and research for the protection of oceans and marine life. The work supports the establishment of swimways and marine protected areas covering marine life, corrals, and ocean floor.

Expanding Philanthropic Opportunities

YachtAid Global expands yacht owner’s philanthropic reach through means to contribute directly to initiatives across cruising regions with the opportunity for the yacht and crew participation.

Partnering for Positive Change

Recent Projects

Examples of Recent Projects

Tiger Shark Research in French Polynesia

Expedition across 6 atolls at Tuomotous. Tagged 7 tiger sharks, deployed 16 modules, collaborative crew & guests.

Expanding Marine Protected Area Mexico

Expeditions in Pacific Mexico, Costa Rica. Tagged 22 sharks, deployed 32 modules, hands-on participation.

Drinking Water For Schools in Galapagos

Galapagos schools: water filtration in 27, serving 8,000 kids. Lectures end single-use plastics.

Youth Sailing and Swimming Programs

Linking South Africa, Caribbean, Galapagos, South Pacific: youth connect via sailing, swimming, surfing.

“It is incumbent upon the yachting community to care for the people and the environments of the coastal communities around the globe who share with us their land, sea, and spirit.”

Captain Mark Drewelow, Founder, YachtAid Global.

Y.CO Partners with YachtAid Glob

How You Can Get Involved

A number of Y.CO yachts already take part in these programmes, providing owners and crew with exciting opportunities to contribute to impactful initiatives globally. There are numerous opportunities for yachts and crew to get involved, tailored to their interests, availability and schedule. Contact your Y.CO representative to find out more.

About YachtAid Global

Experts in Altruism

YachtAid Global (YAG), founded in 2006, is a non-profit organisation of experts in the field of altruism. For the past 17 years they have been working with yachts around the world to deliver unified humanitarian aid, conservation, and disaster response leadership programmes.

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More From Forbes

Super wealthy yacht owners rally together to help disaster victims with yachtaid global.

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I write a lot about the most decadent over-the-top luxury experiences and also regularly focus on the the richest people in the world, but it is also important to highlight the amazing charitable work being done by some of the greatest superyacht owners and crews in the world.

Through the efforts of YachtAid Global, they have been orchestrating the delivery of disaster relief, development and conservation aid to coastal communities worldwide. The organization was founded in 2006 and is a registered nonprofit providing tax benefits to donors. They utilize a network of volunteers who coordinate logistics, patrons who sponsor supplies and yacht owners and crew that offer to transport them. They deliver to schools, medical clinics, cultural centers and other organizations in remote and isolated locations including Alaska, Indonesia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, French Polynesia, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Belize, Vanuatu, and more. They work with an impressive roster of yachts to provide the owners and crew with an outlet to give back in a unique way that does not change the course of their cruise.

So many recent disasters have inspired yacht owners to spring into action. Cyclone Pam was one of the most powerful storms ever to make landfall with the islands taking a devastating direct hit. Hardly a tree stood straight after Pam came across the South Pacific nation, where some 260,000 people live. Vanuatu, which lies east of Australia, is an archipelago comprising 83 small islands, 65 of them inhabited and many remote and lacking infrastructure.

YAG’s mission simply is to seek out and find like-minded Captains and Owners to participate in their humanitarian efforts, There are so many yachts that travel close to areas in need whatever the cause. It’s the organizations suggestion to deploy private yachts as a transport vehicle for donated aid a relief supplies. With YAG assisting in disaster relief, literally any region is accessible because yachts can move easily into isolated areas that are mostly unreachable by the larger ships of relief organizations.

Superyacht Dragonfly owned by a tech billionaire, recently arrived in Vanuatu following a three and a half day trip. She loaded supplies and a medical staff and departed for the Shepherd Islands. Nearly all of the villages there were completely destroyed, and news reports stated the locals were drinking salt water in an attempt to survive. Even Roman Abramovitch's former Superyacht Umbra recently used a helicopter to air drop water to Vanuatu.

Among the superyachts that have contributed to relief efforts are; Richard Branson's 100 foot catamaran Necker Belle that sprung into action after Hurricane Gonzalo hit St. Maarten last year and the luxury yacht Big Fish that delivered supplies aiding the victims of Cyclone Evan. The McMullen and Wing-built motor yacht left Auckland bound for Viti Levu and laden with $50,000 of aid. The yacht helped 600 locals, specifically the hospital and school children who lost everything after the Chilean earthquake and subsequent tsunami tore up Robinson Crusoe island last year. The tiny island off the coast of Chile had most of its seaside village destroyed and, due to the remoteness of the village, it was difficult to get aid to the island.

The crew of the impressive 96-metre motor yacht Vava II owned by billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, created the Vava II Global Challenge, in order to raise money for YachtAid Global (YAG) through creative athletic challenges. December 18 saw the VAVA II yacht crew hand over their first aid package of their circumnavigation. The Autism Association of the Maldives were very grateful of the care package handed over to them onboard.

The 85-metre Oceanco mega yacht Vibrant Curiosity owned by German billionaire Reinhold Wuerth has been earning docking points since January 2012, while docking at an IGY owned superyacht marina. IGY Anchor Club points were donated to the relief fund to assist in docking costs for yachts delivering supplies to disaster areas.

In Cabo San Lucas where much of the coast was devastated, Yacht Calex arrived following Hurricane Odile to deliver important goods. The 47.55m motor yacht Seven J’s also dropped cargo to the victims. The 111-foot superyacht Seljm collected aid items and money and delivered to Syrian refugees fleeing into Turkey and finally, while in the Maldives in December, Vava II’s crew presented computer equipment to the Autism Association of the Maldives. OmniAccess, a marine VSAT and yacht internet service provider, made the purchase and delivery of the equipment to Vava II possible.

YachtAid Global is seeking donations of any kind and will be matching donations up to $5,000.  For more information on getting involved visit http://yachtaidglobal.org/wp/

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Richard Branson’s Charter Yacht ‘Necker Belle’ teams up with YachtAid Global

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By Editorial Team   14 November 2014

Following the devastating effects of Hurricane Gonzalo that ripped through St. Maarten last month, Sir Richard Branson’s luxury catamaran ‘Necker Belle’ has been assisting Yacht Aid Global in delivering supplies to locals on the Caribbean island.

Once again the yachting community has shown its strong sense of community in helping out with the post Hurricane Gonzalo efforts to provide the families of St. Maarten with much-needed supplies. With just 30 minutes’ notice of what was thought to be a tropical storm had turned into a Category 3 hurricane, the island residents were unable to install proper protection from the elements and considerable damaged was caused.

YAG’s mission simply is to seek out and find like-minded captains and owners to participate in our humanitarian efforts. Dhardra Blake

With the 2014 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show set to open on the 30th October, YachtAid Global Volunteer Event Advisor, Dhardra Blake headed out to see which superyachts would be able to help out. She commented: ‘YAG’s mission simply is to seek out and find like-minded captains and owners to participate in our humanitarian efforts. There are so many yachts which travel close to areas in need, whatever the cause. It’s our suggestion to deploy private yachts as a transport vehicle for donated aid and relief supplies.’

Sir Richard Branson is renowned for his philanthropic outlook and his ‘Necker Belle’ Captain Beez Evans, along with his crew were keen to participate despite his vessel’s short turnaround time. The 32m/105ft luxury charter yacht was then stocked up with relief aid supplies from local yachting industry firms including Yacht Chandlers, Medical Offshore Support Limited, MedAire and The Ditch Kit. In St Maarten IGY Marinas has donated a slip for the offloading of the aid and supplies as well as an overnight stay for the crew.

The St. Maarten recovery efforts are still ongoing and Founder of YachtAid Global Mark Drewelow is still calling for help from yachts: ‘We are still seeking more yachts to deliver needed supplies to Antigua which was also affected by Hurricane Gonzalo, and would like to assist the island in preparation for the 2014 Antigua Charter Show coming up in a few weeks.’

For more information about YachtAid Global visit their website. For details on booking a charter on board ‘Necker Belle’ contact your charter broker . 

More Yacht Information

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A new coalition of aid groups supporting Sudan will launch at this year’s Clinton Global Initiative

NEW YORK (AP) — A wide-ranging group of 15 nonprofits, humanitarian aid organizations and other funders plan to open this year’s Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting Monday by announcing new investments to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan following more than a year of conflict.

The Coalition for Mutual Aid in Sudan – which includes The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Giving, Global Fund for Women, and The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee — will donate at least $2 million to mutual aid groups in the country by the end of the year. It also pledged to raise another $4.5 million for those groups within the next two years.

The commitment is one of more than 100 expected at the two-day meeting of political, business and philanthropic leaders gathering to address some of the world’s most pressing issues. Former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Clinton Foundation Vice Chair Chelsea Clinton have set this year’s theme as “What’s Working,” a way to look for potential solutions and effective programs in tumultuous times.

First lady Jill Biden said Friday that she would announce a new women’s health initiative at Monday’s CGI meeting, but declined to offer specifics ahead of her appearance.

“Our nation is home to the best health research in the world, yet women’s health is understudied and research is underfunded,” Biden said. “And we still know too little about how to affectively prevent, diagnose, and treat a range of health conditions in women, from heart disease to cancers.”

World Food Program director Cindy McCain told The Associated Press earlier this month that “ Sudan’s nearly a forgotten crisis “ and that 25 million people there already face acute hunger. Last week, the top United Nations humanitarian official said fighting is escalating in the conflict that began in April 2023 when long-simmering tensions between Sudan’s military and paramilitary leaders broke out in the capital Khartoum and spread to other regions. The U.N. says more than 14,000 people have been killed and 33,000 injured.

“With ongoing impediments to a large-scale international aid response, Sudanese community groups have become the primary frontline responders and are currently the most effective means of reaching millions on the brink of starvation,” Patricia McIlreavy, president of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, said in a prepared statement on behalf of the coalition. “With so many lives on the line, the imperative to support local aid efforts in Sudan has never been more urgent.”

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy says more than 12 million people have been forced from their homes in Sudan, creating what is now the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis. The danger from the conflict has prevented most international aid agencies from delivering supplies to those in need.

Greg Milne, the Clinton Global Initiative CEO who convened a panel in April to raise awareness and support for the Sudanese people, said the new coalition is an example of what bringing organizations from varied sectors can do.

“We know strong, diverse partnerships can help address often overlooked and even dire challenges, and develop unexpected and innovative solutions,” he said.

Philanthropic leaders, including Bill Gates, World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres, Open Society Foundations President Binaifer Nowrojee, and Rockefeller Foundation President Raj Shah will share information about their work during CGI, as will Prince Harry, who will discuss the launch of The Archewell Foundation Parents’ Network, which supports parents of children harmed online. In his Tuesday appearance, the Duke of Sussex will also address his work with the World Health Organization and others to reduce violence against children, an issue he and his wife Meghan outlined on a recent trip to Colombia.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, and Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics are set to address the conference, as are CEOs from Pfizer, Mastercard, IKEA, Pinterest, Sanofi and Chobani.

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How pro-Russian 'yacht' propaganda influenced US debate over Ukraine aid

A website founded by a former US Marine who now lives in Russia has fuelled a rumour that Volodymyr Zelensky purchased two luxury yachts with American aid money.

Despite the false claim, the disinformation plot was successful. It took off online and was echoed by members of the US Congress making crucial decisions about military spending.

It was an incredible assertion - using two advisers as proxies, Mr Zelensky paid $75m (£59m) for two yachts.

But not only has the Ukrainian government flatly denied the story, the two ships in question have not even been sold.

Despite being false, the story reached members of the US Congress, where leaders say any decision on further aid to Ukraine will be delayed until next year.

Some are vehemently opposed to further support.

On X, formerly Twitter, Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said: "Anyone who votes to fund Ukraine is funding the most corrupt money scheme of any foreign war in our country's history."

She linked to a story containing the yacht rumour.

Tom Tillis, a Republican Senator and a supporter of military aid to Ukraine, spoke to CNN shortly after senators held a closed-door meeting with Mr Zelensky last week.

"I think the notion of corruption came up because some have said we can't do it, because people will buy yachts with the money," Mr Tillis said. "[Mr Zelensky] disabused people of those notions."

Mr Tillis has butted heads with another Republican Senator, J D Vance, who has also mentioned Mr Zelensky and ships in the same breath.

While discussing budget priorities on a podcast hosted by former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon, Mr Vance said: "There are people who would cut Social Security, throw our grandparents into poverty, why? So that one of Zelensky's ministers can buy a bigger yacht?"

Although the yacht rumour is false, the BBC has discovered the story was given a major boost by a Russia-linked website that pretends to be located in Washington.

It is, researchers say, a "likely purpose-built tool for narrative laundering with links to the Russian government".

The 'Washington' website with roots in Russia

The story first emerged in late November on an obscure YouTube channel - one with only a handful of followers and just a single video in its feed.

The next day, it was picked up by a site called DC Weekly, alongside pictures of the two yachts - called Lucky Me and My Legacy - and documents purportedly confirming the sale of the boats to Zelensky's associates.

But the luxury yacht brokers where both vessels are listed for sale said that the allegations are false. The sales documents appear to be forgeries. And instead of having been purchased by Zelensky or his close advisers, both Lucky Me and My Legacy are still up for sale.

The DC Weekly story touched off a blaze of online speculation, with multiple sources linking to the story and content citing the story across multiple platforms.

However, the site is not, as the name implies, a weekly publication - nor is it based in the US capital.

Research by Darren Linvill and Patrick Warren, disinformation researchers at Clemson University, shows that DC Weekly was started by John Mark Dougan, a former US Marine and Florida police officer who moved to Russia in 2016.

Mr Dougan spent three years as a deputy with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office, then after he left in 2009 he started a website spreading rumours about his former employers.

Since moving to Russia he has reinvented himself as a journalist covering the invasion of Ukraine, and has spread a number of false and baseless claims - for example that Russia was attempting to destroy biological weapons labs.

DC Weekly, the Clemson researchers discovered, is full of news stories copied from other sites and rewritten by artificial intelligence engines. The site's "reporters" have fake names along with headshots copied from elsewhere on the internet.

Mixed in with the rewritten stories - apparently designed to give the site a sheen of legitimacy - are dubious original reports.

One such story was the origin of the yacht claim, and the Clemson researchers tracked how the story spread widely after DC Weekly published its version.

Evidence collected by the researchers indicates that the site continued to be connected to the same server as several of Mr Dougan's other websites. BBC Verify also found that part of the DC Weekly website is hosted on a server in Moscow.

Earlier this year Mr Dougan was identified as being a DC Weekly commentator when he gave several talks at an academy affiliated with the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"It is pretty obvious to me that Dougan has been involved with DC Weekly for a long time, and remains connected to the infrastructure behind it," Mr Warren said.

Mr Dougan said via text message that he "emphatically denies these assertions", and that he sold DC Weekly for $3,000 several years ago. He said he does not recall the person he sold it to and has lost the paperwork due to being kicked off payment platforms and losing access to email accounts because of financial sanctions against Russia. He says he has nothing to do with the site's current operations.

The researchers say the site is part of a much larger pro-Russia propaganda machine.

"Whether this one particular guy is behind it doesn't really matter much," Mr Warren said. "The key point is that it is an important element in a very substantial and effective pro-Russian influence operation that needs to be exposed and understood."

The Ukrainian President's Office said of the DC Weekly story: "All information in this article is fake. Zelensky and his family members do not and did not have any yachts."

Mr Tillis and Ms Greene were contacted for comment.

A spokesperson for Mr Vance said: "For years, everyone in the West recognised that Ukraine was one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Somehow everyone forgot that just as we started sending them billions of dollars in foreign aid."

Costume jewellery

The yacht story piles fictional stories onto existing concerns about corruption, which has been a long-running problem in Ukraine. Tackling it is one of the tests the country would have to pass to join Western institutions like the European Union.

According to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, Ukraine ranks 116th out of 180 countries, although efforts in recent years have seen its position significantly improve.

• Ukraine's hopes of rebuilding rely on fighting corruption

But the attention given to the country's real and ongoing corruption issues has been mild compared to online chatter over false stories backed up by fake documents and shadowy social media accounts.

In October, a widely shared claim on social media stated that President Zelensky's wife spent a fortune on jewellery in New York while the Ukrainian president was in the city speaking to the United Nations.

Like the yacht rumour, this claim originated on a YouTube channel with very few followers and just one video. The video featured a woman who said she is from Benin. She claimed to work at Cartier on New York's Fifth Avenue.

The woman showed a receipt dated 22 September, with Mrs Zelensky's name on it and a bill for $1.1m for a bracelet, earrings and a necklace.

Facial recognition tools threw up a close match between the woman in the video and photos from social media profiles of a woman who lives in St Petersburg, Russia. When we looked at the pictures of the woman it appeared to be the same person as the one in the YouTube video.

The story went viral on Facebook, TikTok and Telegram. Russia's UK embassy X account shared it with the comment: "Best use of UK taxpayers money ever".

But the receipt is a clear fake. By 21 September, Mr and Mrs Zelensky had left New York and travelled to Canada.

One English-language site was instrumental in spreading the rumour - DC Weekly.

BBC Verify and the Clemson researchers found a number of DC Weekly articles posted between August and December this year that followed the same pattern.

The articles falsely alleged that Prince Andrew made a secret visit to Ukraine, that Ukraine provided weapons to Hamas, that an American non-profit organisation harvested organs in Ukraine and that Zelensky's administration allowed Western companies to use Ukrainian farmland for disposal of toxic waste.

Stories on DC Weekly were often published within days after allegations first appeared on YouTube.

In addition to DC Weekly, some of the allegations - including those about Cartier jewellery and yachts - also appeared on several pro-Kremlin English-language websites as well as legitimate news websites in Africa that accept "sponsored" (paid-for) content.

Some of the stories were picked up by other outlets and accounts. But with the story about the yachts, the people behind DC Weekly appear to have achieved a level of success that had previously eluded them - their allegations being repeated by some of the most powerful people in the US Congress.

Additional reporting by Paul Myers

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