In the early history of the Lent and May Bumps, Magdalene 1st men's VIII were often found in the 2nd division, occasionally slipping into the 3rd.

Between 2014 and 2019, the men's May Bumps crew enjoyed its most successful period in the Club's history, having risen from the 2nd Division in 2014 up to 2nd on the river in 2019, its highest position ever.

The Magdalene Boat Club occasionally sends crews to Henley Royal Regatta with some success.

[3] In 2021, a Magdalene and Sidney Sussex college composite crew made the Friday (quarter finals) of the Temple Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, becoming the first college crew to do so since Lady Margaret Boat Club in 2000.

In 2019, MBC signed a five-year sponsorship agreement with drug discovery company RxCelerate, headquartered at the Babraham Research Campus south of Cambridge.