Rupert Wagstaff will join the Yacht Havens Group board of directors in early 2027 to take on the newly created operations director role, following more than a decade as marina director at Lymington Yacht Haven in Hampshire, England.

Wagstaff first joined the business in 2004 and became marina director at Lymington Yacht Haven nine years later. During his time, he helped grow occupancy and revenue at the 600-berth site and contributed to projects across the group, including the development of Yacht Haven Quay Plymouth, which opened in 2008 as UK’s first purpose-built dry stack marina.

As operations director, Wagstaff will work with Yacht Haven Group’s marina teams to improve operations, share best practice, upgrade customer experience and support long-term performance. Beyond his new role, he also serves as the company’s health & safety director, sits on the council of The Yacht Harbour Association and chairs the Lymington Harbour advisory board.

Wagstaff said: “I am delighted to be joining the board and taking on this role within Yacht Havens Group. At Lymington Yacht Haven I’ve been fortunate to work alongside an exceptional team and get to know so many customers, berth holders and industry colleagues over the years. I’ve been lucky enough to see first-hand the passion, expertise and commitment that exists throughout the business. As operations director, I look forward to working closely with our marina managers and haven teams to build on those strengths, support continued growth and ensure we continue delivering outstanding experiences for our customers across every location in the group.”

Lymington Yacht Haven

Dylan Kalis, managing director of Yacht Havens Group, said: “Rupert’s appointment reflects both his outstanding contribution to Yacht Havens over the past two decades and the depth of experience he brings to the business. He combines strong operational leadership with strategic insight, but what really stands out is his commitment to people, our local communities and the culture of the business. His success at Lymington Yacht Haven speaks for itself. As we continue to invest in our marinas and enhance the services we provide, Rupert will play an important role in supporting our teams and shaping the future direction of the group. We are delighted to welcome him to the board.”

Since opening Lymington Yacht Haven in 1972, Yacht Havens Group has grown into a family-owned operator of nine marinas in the UK and Europe. The network now provides more than 4,000 pontoon berths, with locations including Lymington, Plymouth, Troon and Largs.

Images courtesy of Yacht Havens Group.