The Trafalgar Group has completed the consolidation of its boat club operations at Northshore Boatyard, bringing together its former Portsmouth and Chichester activity into one unified base in the heart of Chichester Harbour.
Following the club’s departure from Trafalgar Wharf at the end of March, Northshore is now the sole home of the group’s boat club operation and the focus of its continued investment in fleet, facilities, and member experience.
The move follows more than £200,000 of fleet investment, the introduction of one of the UK’s first electric boat club offerings, and the ongoing evolution of the Northshore site as a long-term base for modern boating. That investment is being shaped carefully, with a focus not only on the club itself, but on creating something that sits well within Itchenor and the wider Chichester Harbour community.
The club began life at Trafalgar Wharf in Portsmouth, a 12-acre former shipyard that The Trafalgar Group transformed into a thriving marine hub.
After the site was sold to Premier Marinas in 2023, Boat Club Trafalgar continued operating from Portsmouth. Then, following The Trafalgar Group’s acquisition of Northshore in 2024, a separate club operation was established in Chichester Harbour. With both clubs running successfully from different locations, the decision was made to bring everything together at Northshore, where the team can fully shape the member experience and keep investing in facilities for the long term.
“We’re proud of where the club started, and excited about where it is now heading,” said Jonny Boys, Managing Director of The Trafalgar Group.
“Bringing everything together at Northshore gives us the opportunity to create the kind of boating experience we’ve always believed in. One strong base, a brilliant setting, a growing fleet, and the freedom to keep investing in what members actually value.”
The Trafalgar Group was one of the first to bring the boat club model to the UK, launching Boat Club Trafalgar more than a decade ago. Its early belief in shared access helped pave the way for what has become arguably one of the fastest-growing leisure boating trends in the country.
“Back then, owning a boat was still seen as the default route onto the water,” said Boys.
“We believed there was another way to do it – one that gave people all the enjoyment, freedom, and spontaneity of boating, without the full weight of ownership behind it.”
That thinking now continues at Northshore, where the club has entered a new phase with a broader fleet, improved facilities, and direct access to one of the South Coast’s most naturally beautiful cruising grounds.
Leading the Way with Electric Boats
Northshore Boat Club is now one of the first in the UK to operate electric boats as part of its core fleet, with two RAND models offering a quieter, lower-impact way to explore the harbour:
- RAND 18 Picnic Electric
- RAND 24 Mana Electric
The wider fleet also includes two new Ballistic RIBs in 2026 specification, a Ballistic XP80, a Merry Fisher 795, and a range of kayaks and paddleboards.
“The electric boats have added something genuinely different to the club,” said Boys.
“They suit Northshore brilliantly. Quiet, simple, easy to use, and a really lovely way to experience the harbour. Alongside the rest of the fleet, they are part of creating a club that feels versatile, modern, and properly enjoyable to use.”
Acquired by The Trafalgar Group in 2024, Northshore Boatyard is now the long-term home of the club. The site includes a deep-water pontoon, on-site café, showers, changing facilities, and free member parking, with wider investment continuing across the boatyard.
“This is not just about moving boats from one place to another,” Boys added.
“It is about creating a stronger long-term base for the club and giving members an experience that feels considered from start to finish. Just as importantly, it is about investing in Northshore carefully and responsibly, in a way that respects where we are, adds something positive over time, and sits well within the harbour community.”
