Mercy Ships Yachting Day Raises $1 Million to Fund Nearly 2,000 Surgeries

A single evening of fundraising by the yachting industry may lead to nearly 2,000 life-changing surgeries. The second annual Mercy Ships Yachting Day Gala raised more than $1 million, nearly double generated by the inaugural event last year.

Held September 9 during the Cannes Yachting Festival, the gala drew support from yacht owners, builders, brokers, and other industry representatives. More than 240 seats sold, near capacity, compared with 145 for the 2025 event. Further for comparison, last year’s gala raised nearly $600,000, helping fund more than 1,000 surgeries.

The fundraiser benefits Mercy Ships, a non-profit operating two hospital ships, Global Mercy and Africa Mercy. Both provide free surgical care to children and adults in coastal sub-Saharan African nations. Many of them lack access to safe, affordable surgery. More than 2,500 volunteer medical professionals from upwards of 60 countries serve aboard the ships annually.

For Bob Allen (above right), founder of Robert Allen Law and Mercy Ships Yachting Day Gala chairman, the results reinforce the purpose behind establishing the initiative. In an interview with Megayacht News before the event, he recalled being struck by the potential impact. “What grabbed me was the human element,” Allen said. He pointed to patients receiving treatment for tumors and malformed limbs, among other conditions. “If you contribute a little bit, you’re going to change one person’s life,” he additionally noted.

The Mercy Ships Yachting Day initiative draws inspiration from Mercy Ships’ established Cargo Day fundraiser in the commercial shipping industry. Over the past decade, that fundraiser has generated $20 million, according to Mercy Ships. Allen and Mercy Ships representatives envision similar long-term support from the yachting community, extending well beyond an annual gathering in Cannes. “The goal is not simply to hold a successful gala each year,” says Bryce Wagner (above left, with Lürssen CEO Peter Lürssen), global executive director of Mercy Ships. Instead, the focus is “to build a movement within the yachting industry” that continues expanding and leading to improved lives.

Mercy Ships Yachting Day yachtingday.org