Yachting Gives Back
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“The yachting industry is surrounded by incredible luxury and it’s very easy to forget that people are struggling right on our doorstep!”
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“The yachting industry is surrounded by incredible luxury and it’s very easy to forget that people are struggling right on our doorstep!”
The superyachts, luxury villas and performance cars provide a stark contrast to an altogether different side of the Balearics, and that’s poverty. After 27 years helping to run the annual Pinmar Yachtsman’s Golf Tournament and channelling the proceeds to many local charities, GYG's Nick Entwisle had became well aware of the crude reality of those facing the risk of social exclusion and poverty on our islands.
When retiring from GYG in May 2019, Nick was keen to stay involved in the yachting community and also to help those in need. He used his extensive industry contacts to enlist support for his Yachting Gives Back initiative, hoping to organise regular, seasonal drives to collect donations for several local charities. However, the yachting community embraced the initiative right from the beginning to such a degree that Nick and his team found themselves picking up donations almost on a daily basis.
Support from Pinmar Supply, who provided donation boxes and storage space in the early days, was invaluable. After the STP shipyard kindly provided a central point of collections in the form of a container, YGB´s activity is now focused around their "headquarters" at STP, open three mornings a week. Yachting Gives Back now collects food, toiletries, cleaning materials, meals prepared by the yachts' chefs, clothing, bedding and other useful items to deliver to various charitable organisations on the island. Financial support from companies and individuals allows YGB to respond to specific needs like washing machines, fridges and other equipment in the soup kitchens and homeless shelters.
“The yachting industry is surrounded by incredible luxury and it’s very easy to forget that people are struggling right on our doorstep,” says Nick. “Employment in the Balearic Islands can be seasonal and low-paid at the best of times let alone now, in the grip of the pandemic with the tourism sector on its knees. The soup kitchens and food banks report that now even middle class families are joining the queues for food donations.
Whether yacht crew or service businesses, we are fortunate to make our living from some of the wealthiest people on the planet and many, but by no means all, of us are therefore in a position where we can easily give something back to this beautiful island community we call home."
The Honours 2024 documentary
Under Nick's leadership, YGB has become a force for positive change across the industry and beyond, earning admiration and support well outside Palma's yachting community. This remarkable influence was acknowledged at the Bowsprit Awards 2024, where Nick was celebrated alongside Frédéric Jousset, art phianthropist and creator of the first boat museum, and Mike Horn, the legendary explorer behind the Pangaea X project, in an inspirational ceremony at Monaco's Salle des Étoiles in September 2024.
As delighted and honoured as Nick and the rest of the YGB team are by this remarkable recognition, the operation carries on just as it always has - without heavy organisation, overheads, or plans for expansion. Founded on voluntary effort and genuine commitment, may its only growth be that of generosity, inspiring volunteers in other yachting hubs to follow suit and establish similar initiatives.
The Team
The YGB Team comes from all walks of yachting life - we have worked as crew members, captains, chefs, yachting entrepreneurs, office all-rounders and high tech specialists, but at YGB we are, above all, volunteers. We bring our particular skill sets and personalities to the project, roll up our sleeves and get on with it. We share Nick's desire to do something for our community and are committed to the task at hand. However, this doesn't mean we take ourselves too seriously - like any yachties, we love having fun and enjoy lighthearted banter! Please swing by the container to say hi even if you don't have a bag of donations with you. We would love to see you!
After 8 years working on yachts Nick spent 22 years with Pinmar. He retired from the board in 2016 and completely three years later. Thanks to the Pinmar Golf Tournament, he knew many local charities. He could see there was a potential opportunity to channel surplus food and materials from yachts to people in need in Mallorca and founded YGB at the beginning of 2019.
Anne started her yachting career as a chef fresh out of culinary college in 1983. She worked full time and freelanced in the industry, on and off, until 2016. During the 1990s she part owned and ran the yachtie bar Latitude 39 in the La Lonja area of Palma. Anne is now semi-retired, has volunteered at YGB since 2020 and is currently managing the social media channels and acting as Vice-President of the charity.
Arrived in Mallorca on a new build delivery from Cape Town 1986 and forgot to go home!!! Worked on several boats before coming ashore in 2000 and since then specialised in the supply of safety equipment to yachting industry. Retired (sort of !) in 2016 but still involved with the yachts and all the many friends. YGB is an added interest to keep me out of trouble (devil finds work for idle hands!!!).
Working as a chef since the early 80s, and after running her own restaurant in Italy for many years, Jan started her yachting adventure fairly late in life. Although trying to retire, she still occasionally goes off to sea with her cooking utensils. Now living full time in Mallorca, she is delighted to be volunteering with YGB to help feed, clothe and shelter those in need.
Having trained in Dietetics and Catering in Edinburgh, Ruth waived goodbye to Scotland in the mid 80’s. Sh arrived in St Thomas and began working as a yacht chef, Finally coming ashore in Mallorca, where she co-ran a catering business and subsequently started a yacht provisioning company. Now retired, she welcomes the opportunity to form part of the YGB team.
Born and raised in Scotland, Nicky arrived to Mallorca in 1992 on a small sailing yacht with her late husband Roger. Apart from an Atlantic crossing with a baby, a ship's cat and a motley crew, she has been here ever since, raising two daughters and working for e3 Systems, the local data comms company founded by Roger. Having recently retired, she will be assisting YGB, a charity close to her heart.
As YGB's founding V-P, Louise's beautifully crafted, heartfelt stories on social media helped to show YGB's donors how their generosity could positively impact the lives of many. This brought the charity's mission closer to the hearts of the nautical community and a steady flow of donations and fundraising initiatives followed. However, Louise's favourite task by far at YGB was delivering donations of essential items to those in need and witnessing their smiles of joyful appreciation.
Currently concentrating on full-time studies, Louise remains involved in YGB in an advisory role.
With an extensive nautical background, from crewing on yachts to running a small nautical business and working in various roles in nautical companies and yacht regattas, Aila volunteered at the YGB container from 2020 to 2022. She carries on working in the superyacht industry and remains closely involved with YGB by keeping the website updated.
The yachting community has proved to be a force to be reckoned with. Your donations of foodstuffs, clothing, bedding, cleaning products, toiletries, cash or bank transfers, the ready made meals and the funds raised in challenges and collections of all kinds - have all meant that we have been able to deliver a substantial amount to those who need it most. Thank you!
It is an impossible task to mention every donor by name, so instead we highlight your donations on our very active Facebook and Instagram pages, and try to show the destination of the donations and what is being purchased with the funds received. On our social media we celebrate your generosity with names and pictures - unless you prefer us not to. All donations are equally welcome, whether they come with a yacht name, face, a company logo or are completely anonymous.
Over the years, fundraising drives have flourished, growing not only in number but variety and creativity. From raffles and personal challenges to lively competitions and well-organised campaigns, each effort reflects a shared spirit: the joy of giving, belonging and building community together. These initiatives have become so vibrant and diverse, they truly deserve to be celebrated in their own right!
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