Welcome to the Club

The Aberdeen Boat Club was founded in 1967 by like-minded yachting enthusiasts and sports fishermen who wished to enjoy access to the seas off the southern side of Hong Kong Island. The Club was initially housed in relatively humble premises, and incorporated as the Aberdeen Boat Club Ltd. in 1967. The club moved into its current purpose-built premises in 1979/80 and has since become one of Hong Kong’s favourite recreational boating and sailing clubs.

The Club has a wide range of facilities for yacht, speedboat and cruiser owners spread over two club houses, with jetty and pontoon moorings available for members’ exclusive use.  The Club has over a thousand members and their families, hailing from over 35 different countries.

The club is run by a highly motivated, capable and cheerful team of staff who provide members and their guests with the highest levels of service. The staff communicates fluently in English and Cantonese with some offering Mandarin, French and Hindi. Once you visit ABC it is easy to see why we are known as “the friendliest Club in Hong Kong".

History

Located on the southern shore of Hong Kong, Aberdeen is one of the oldest inhabited areas on the Island. A fishing village and the home mooring of the boat-dwelling Tanka people, Aberdeen has been a thriving harbour since long before either Zheng He or Columbus discovered the Americas. It is well documented that 200 years ago the area was a busy fishing community and haven for pirates, as well as being home to ladies of negotiable virtue in floating bordellos! The maritime commerce of this once busy fishing port has evolved over the years and whilst still home to the Aberdeen fishing fleet, the harbour and typhoon shelter now also plays host to Hong Kong’s unique Jumbo floating restaurant. The shelter is a bustling hive of maritime activity with the lively marina crammed with ferries, junks, sampans, water taxis, cruisers and yachts.

In 1962 Aberdeen was still a busy fishing port with a growing community of pleasure boats. It’s proximity to the waters south of Hong Kong Island encouraged a number of enthusiasts with interests in boating and fishing to informally get together to found the fledgling Aberdeen Boat Club. After this low key beginning, interest grew and the Club was formally established a few years later in 1967. The Club’s sheltered harbour facilities with easy access to nearby open water quickly established it as a popular spot for sailing and relaxing.

A Well Recognised Place

For film aficionados, Aberdeen Boat Club offers a rare vantage point into how the iconic harbour has been used in location cinematography over the years. It is not only a favourite location for a myriad of local films normally involving cops, triads and vampish women, but also a key location in some of the all time greats of international cinema.

Top of the list is the old ABC Nissen Hut featured in Enter the Dragon (1973) starring the immortal Bruce Lee. This is closely followed by the epic adaptation of James Clavell’s Noble House (1988) starring Pierce Brosnan jumping from the upper levels of the Jumbo Restaurant. If the dramatic fire featured in the serial had indeed happened, the view from the Waglan Bar would have been fantastic. Last, but not least, who will ever forget Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider Cradle of Life (2003) entering Times Square, jumping from the top of IFC 2 and dropping in on a bemused Aberdeen fishing family?

Despite the questionable continuity in this last scene, it is great to think that Lara Croft would have flown over the club in her final approach to the fishing boat!