Seafarer 30th Anniversary Celebration Raises Funds for RNLI

Thirty years is a long time in any industry. As we celebrate the Seafarer 30th Anniversary, it’s a chance to reflect on three decades doing something we genuinely love. Getting people out on the water, watching first-timers find their sea legs, building friendships feels like a life well lived.

On 4th March, we gathered a room full of the people who’ve shaped those years to celebrate the Seafarer 30th Anniversary. We wanted to raise a glass to say thank you. However, we knew we wanted the evening to do more than celebrate us. 

In fact, a Seafarer staff member volunteers with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. At some point, they spoke to our Managing Director Chris Lorenzo about the work they do. That moment really struck a chord. 

The RNLI has been saving lives on the water since 1824. This charity is run overwhelmingly by volunteers, providing a 24-hour search. Specifically, their rescue service operates around the coasts of the UK and Ireland and is independent of government funding. 

For example, in 2024 alone, their crews launched over 9,000 times. To date, they’ve saved over 146,000 lives, an average of two every single day since 1824.

For a company that spends its life on the water, supporting them felt like the right thing to do. For this reason, as part of the Seafarer 30th Anniversary, we set up a JustGiving page. Additionally, we pledged to match every donation, raising over £2,000 on the night.

To celebrate the Seafarer 30th Anniversary, we hosted an invitation-only evening at The Water Rats in Kings Cross. In fact, it is one of London’s most beloved live music venues. 

Singer-songwriter Phoebe White opened with a solo acoustic set, setting the tone before headline act Keystone took to the stage. And if you’ve ever wondered whether your Managing Director moonlights as a rock drummer, wonder no more! Chris was behind the kit for the headline set.

Meanwhile, colleagues, industry friends, and press filled the room. The music, the atmosphere, the cause, it all came together. This was the kind of evening that reminds you how much goodwill you can build up over 30 years.

Initially, Seafarer opened its doors in 1995 from a small office at Butler’s Wharf, London. The very first trip was a cabin charter in the Cyclades, led by Chris and his wife. 

If you ask Chris, he’ll tell you the weather was rough and guests spent the first three days seasick. Everyone had a brilliant time in the end and that’s what matters. 

Thirty years on, we take over 7,000 people sailing every year across a broad range of destinations. Today, the team peaks at more than 50 people during the summer. The scale has grown, but the commitment to personal service hasn’t. 

Alongside the Seafarer 30th Anniversary year, our guests recognised this with a Feefo Platinum Service Award for the sixth consecutive year. Feefo is an independent reviews platform, so it means a lot.

Ultimately, the Seafarer 30th Anniversary reminds us we’re as excited about what’s ahead as we are proud of what’s behind. Indeed, one of it would have been possible without the people who’ve sailed with us. So thank you, genuinely.

Here’s to the next 30 years!