Sovereign Harbour is a large new development about 2 miles east of the town which is accessible at all states of the tide through two large locks running in parallel.

Approaching from the east, steer for the middle of the rising ground (the South Downs seen from an angle). The entrance to the outer harbour is to the left of two prominent white appartment blocks and is marked by white painted rocks. Coming from Beachy Head pass by Eastbourne and the pier, keeping at least half a mile offshore, and then head for the entrance to Sovereign marked by the Martello Tower. If you can’t see the Martello Tower to start with, it’s beyond the last of the white buildings and where the red ones begin, though with the recent pace of building this advice may soon be overtaken.

One of the locks will open on the hour or half hour, so just hang around in the outer harbour until the gates open and the lights go green. Access is 24 hour and at certain times there is unlikely to be much competition, but at teatime on a summer weekend the place is buzzing and you may have to wait as the lock-keeper packs the boats in as fast as he can. Once in the lock a member of the marina staff will generally be on hand to allocate you a berth.

Facilities are first class and Sovereign is one of the rare marinas where you can enjoy a proper shower without being cribbed, cabined and confined with your clothes half drenched. The background musak which will accompany your scrubbing typifies both the attention to detail and the slightly synthetic feel of the whole development.

Visitor berths are close to the lock, and also close to the rather noisy fishing fraternity. Fuel (cheaper than some places) is available 24 hours by the lock and is self service. Just fill up and then nip up to the adjacent marina office to pay. Supplies from the large on-site supermarket about 10 minutes walk. Restaurants of a predictable kind on the quay. Eastbourne itself is a taxi ride away.

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