Our Journey
The Boat Club was founded by Christopher White and Stuart Rawlinson in 2013 with a clear vision, to create an exclusive community focused on high-quality seamanship and meaningful experiences on the water.
Recognising the need for a space where boating enthusiasts could connect, learn and share their passion, they established a club that emphasises skill development and community. Today, The Boat Club serves as a gathering place for those who appreciate the art of boating, fostering lasting friendships and a supportive environment for both novice and experienced members alike. Chris and Stuart’s commitment to excellence and community continues to guide The Boat Club as it grows and evolves.
Launch
Brought together by their love of boating, founders Christopher White and Stuart Rawlinson saw an opportunity to make boating not only accessible but a supported and social pastime. It was on this foundation that The Boat Club launched. The first of its kind, bringing membership boating to the UK, The Boat Club gave members the experience of boating without having to own a boat. With two boats, and having signed its first member, The Boat Club launched from Parkstone Bay Marina.
A year on
Only beginning to realise its potential, The Boat Club steadily increased members, membership options and its fleet with the introduction of Jasmine. Marking their first exhibition at the Southampton Boat Show, The Boat Club welcomed an exclusive corporate partnership with Poole Audi. By 2015 the fleet consisted of 5-day boats and cruisers and membership boating was beginning to generate interest across the UK.
New Destinations
With the introduction of the premium Flagship membership, The Boat Club expanded its base outside of the UK setting its sights on the South of France, where The Boat Club Cote d’Azure was born. To co-inside with this expansion and the addition of the Fairline 34 Targa, The Boat Club began hosting membership events with its first-ever regatta to the Isle of Wight and The Hut at Colwell Bay.
Enhanced User Experience
Maintaining a trajectory of innovation, The Boat Club commissioned a bespoke booking app enabling unlimited access across multiple vessels at the touch of a button. With further upgrades and investment with the addition of 3 Axopar models to the fleet and the launch of The Boat Club members pontoon!
The Boat Club also celebrated becoming one of two exclusive distributors for Zodiac RIBS in the UK.
Celebrations & New Boat Sales
Celebrating the welcome return of its members after the pandemic with the welcome addition of the Members Pontoon. The Boat Club extended its events space, inviting members to enjoy a comfortable outdoor area to relax, offering a perfect end to a day well spent on the water.
The Boat Club proudly became the sole distributor for De Antonio Yachts in the UK and Channel Island. The first boat arrived in April 2021, with a further 3 yachts commissioned the same year.
Boat ownership options became available from The Boat Club in the spirit of offering members and the broader boating community options every step of their boating journey, from membership boating to full ownership.
Bubbles & Skippered Charters
With over a hundred UK members and a fleet of 25-day boats, The Boat Club continued to develop and expand both on and off the water. With new additions to the in-house team and continued online development, The Boat Club continued plotting its course for the future.
2023 marked the hugely successful collaborative partnership with Midas Prosecco, as exclusive events sponsors, this was the perfect way to toast the arrival of the charter division of The Boat Club.
The Future & Beyond
Celebrating a decade, The Boat Club has navigated the way for membership boating and with the continued growth of The Clubs events and exclusive community, the development of a Members Club House and the launch of the new Cruise membership saw a new level of experience arrive at The Boat Club.
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The future of The Boat Club remains focused on its core values of providing a range of 5 star options to enjoying the water, with the best level of support and experience. With Chris White and wife Natalie on the helm The Boat Clubs team continues to grow with the addition of Mark McCormish joining the operations team as the manager of this action packed department.
We look forward to you joining us!
Contact us
To find out more about our services across membership, charter and new boat sales contact us.
