Approaches
The largest and most attractive of the three large natural harbours between the Isle of Wight and Selsey Bill, Chichester Harbour is one of the country’s finest cruising areas with a wide range of berthing and mooring options. Despite its name it is neither a harbour in the conventional sense nor very close to Chichester for most of its shoreline. Rather it’s a series of peaceful and lovely creeks backed by distant hills and dotted with attractive villages, all protected from the sea by Hayling Island and the sandy banks of Bracklesham Bay.

Access is across Chichester Bar which needs to be treated with respect. Depths here are in theory dredged to about 1.5m below chart datum giving at least 2m at MLWS. However, the bottom can vary and streams run strongly through the harbour entrance reaching up to 6 knots on the spring ebb so if there is any significant onshore wind the sea can kick up quite a bit counselling entry for deep keel boats at no less than half-tide.

Care also needs to be taken to keep strictly to the channel which runs close to Eastoke Point on the west side of the entrance. From seaward find the West Pole Beacon which is a steel structure with a red can on top and approach it on a bearing of about 005º from a mile or so offshore to avoid the sandbanks to left and to right. Then leaving it to port, head towards the point, leaving the inner dolphin with the tide gauge on it about 50m off. Once in the entrance proper take heed of the starboard hand beacon and buoys to keep you off the shallows of The Winner on the east side of the entrance.

Marinas, moorings and anchorages
In the harbour itself there are five marinas and any number of mooring possibilities. Only two of the marinas have all-tide access. Closest to the entrance is Sparkes which is a good choice for visitors en route elsewhere. Access is via a channel dredged to 2m to a well situated basin with views across the harbour to the hills beyond. Inside the harbour entrance, pass between the Hayling Island SC pontoon to port and the east cardinal mark with tide gauge beyond it and head for the orange transit marks on a course of 277º, leaving the pile moorings to port. After the last pile mooring follow the piles with port hand top marks south into the marina. All facilities, including on-site restaurant.

Also with all-tide access is Northney. From the harbour entrance continue north for 3 miles up the Emsworth Channel, keeping to the middle of the channel. At the Emsworth south cardinal light beacon, bear to port up Sweare Deep taking care not to cut any corners rounding the Northney red beacon and into the marina via the dredged channel after a further mile or so. Inquire ahead about vacant berths. It’s an efficient and pretty marina, but a taxi ride from shops or restaurants apart from the Langstone Hotel next door.

The main alternatives are Chichester Marina and the neighbouring Birdham Pool which lie down the Chichester Channel. To find these follow the North Winner and Mid Winner buoys round to starboard once past the Hayling Island SC, and then proceed along the channel NE and then E.

Chichester Marina is an attractively sited modern facility on the south side of the channel with space for 1080 vessels. The entry channel is marked with starboard hand beacons and has a minimum depth of about 0.3m at MLWS or 1.7 at MLWN. If you can’t reach the entry channel you may be able to pick up a buoy upstream of Itchenor while you wait. Entry to the marina is through a lock (available 24/7) and there is a waiting pontoon which, given the size of the place, can be very necessary late on a summer weekend. Free flow around HW. All facilities including restaurants and some provisions.

Birdham Pool just to the west is also accessed through a lock (available 0600-2400 in high season) but the approach channel from Birdham Beacon dries at least 1m, so access is restricted, depending on draft, to around HW±3. Free flow is possible at MHWS. It’s a picturesque spot with the old tidal mill buildings next to the lock, and shops and restaurants can be found about 5 minutes walk away at the adjacent Chichester Marina.

Right at the end of the Emsworth Channel lies Emsworth Yacht Harbour. However, the approaches dry and the sill maintains a depth in the marina of only 1.5m, so it is mainly of use to shoal draft craft entering and leaving near the top of the tide. The attractive village of Emsworth is about 15 minutes walk.

Aside from the marinas there are several possible anchorages and a multitude of moorings subject to the usual provisos of a rapid and courteous exit should their owners return. Recognised anchorages include the area off East Head not far from the harbour entrance; east of Pilsey Island near the start of Thorney Channel; the western end of Itchenor Reach west of the Fairway buoy.

Each of the four “fingers” of the harbour has a large number of moorings, some of which may occasionally be free. In order, from west to east, Emsworth Channel is the deepest with the attraction of the village of Emsworth at its head. Thorney has few facilities but a lot of peace and quiet. Bosham has the delightful village of the same name with traditional pubs and cafés. Chichester / Fishbourne has the pretty village of Itchenor and, further up, Dell Quay but becomes very shallow in its upper reaches. As ever, vessels with shoal draft and those able to dry out will find more options than deep draft fin keel boats.

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