How Black Yacht Day is building community on the water in Miami

Miami-Dade County admin October 29, 2026 0 Comments

How Black Yacht Day is building community on the water in Miami

Growing up in West Little River, Black Yacht Day cofounder Shakyra Chrysostome seldom went to the beach. If trips to the beach were rare, voyages on a yacht were unheard of.

“I really only went to the beach when my uncle would come down from Atlanta,” said Chrysostome, 30.

Chrysostome and her three cofounders started Black Yacht Day in 2024 to encourage Black Miamians to find joy and a sense of belonging on the water. The event, which started out as a one-day yacht trip, has since evolved into a three-day celebration, and many attendees even come from out of town. This year’s event will take place Nov. 6-8.

Event goers can buy tickets starting at $185 to sail on a yacht chartered by the organizers, or even bring their own boat or yacht. Each ticketed yacht has its own theme and music, ranging from the latest hip-hop to classic R&B.

After graduating from Florida A&M University in 2016 and beginning a career in communications, Chrysostome moved back to Miami. She befriended Adam Payne, a Houston native who worked in finance and had a similar goal of building community. The two connected with Alexis Brown, a Miami event curator, and Andrew Scott, the owner of a boat rental company.

Together, the four thought about how they could combine their skill sets to help connect Black people in South Florida who wanted to enjoy Miami’s waters. With the launch of the first Black Yacht Day, local community members quickly paid attention.

Boston native Maiy Cade has lived in Miami since 2021 and appreciates how much Black Yacht Day makes her feel a sense of community. She heard about the first sail in 2024 and made sure she was on the next one.

Cade, 45, had never seen an aquatic event at the same scale as Black Yacht Day, despite working in event production. She is now preparing to attend her third Black Yacht Day event.

“I thought there would be more things to do for Black people here,” she said. “There aren’t that many places or events that happen on a regular basis for us. It’s great to be in a space that’s catered for you.”

With the success of Black Yacht Day, and word of mouth spreading over two years, the team took a different risk in August: It entered a pitch competition for Black entrepreneurs and won.

The Sail La Vie: Black Yacht Day team won Pitch the Beach, a pitch competition hosted by the city of Miami Beach at Casa Matilda, a Black-owned Miami Beach steakhouse. The $5,000 prize mattered to the team, but the validation that came with winning the pitch competition was important in itself.

“That proves that what we’re doing is sustainable, and it means something,” Payne said.

But two of the judges weren’t surprised.

“Their victory at Pitch the Beach reflects what we hoped to accomplish through this initiative: creating greater visibility and meaningful connections for Black entrepreneurs while showcasing businesses with the potential to contribute to Miami Beach’s economic and cultural vitality,” said city of Miami Beach Economic Development Director Steven Anthony.

Another judge, Glendon Hall, is the chairman and cofounder of the Miami Beach Black Affairs Advisory Committee. Hall has lived in Miami Beach for 25 years and is intent on seeing more events for Black people in Miami Beach and throughout Miami.

“We need to expand the Black experience in Miami Beach,” he said. “I always tell people that Black Bahamian hands built Miami Beach. We’re not going to be denied from being here.”

Moving ahead, Chrysostome wants to see the Black Yacht Day brand expand in South Florida. That could include water safety and beach events and even pool parties. This year has already seen a spring sail and a Juneteenth event.

“What we’ll see in the next few years with Black Yacht Day is more exposure to the water from the youth to generations above us,” she said. “The more often we do this, I think the more opportunity people have to say, ‘Yeah, I do want to get on a yacht today.’”