where is chichester yacht club

Practical Boat Owner

• Digital edition

Chichester Marina and Harbour: a guide

• Alison Wood
• March 10, 2023

Tranquil Chichester Marina and the surrounding harbour is the perfect destination for sailors with time to explore this area of natural beauty, as Alison Wood reports

Chichester Marina is situated adjacent to the rolling West Sussex countryside. Credit: Premier Credit: Premier Marinas

Surrounded by countryside, Chichester Harbour in Sussex is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), covering almost 7,400 hectares.

Distinctive tidal channels lead to a maze of inlets that criss-cross expanses of saltmarsh and mudflats.

Aerial view out to seaward taken from Bosham. Credit: David A Easterly/Alamy

The shoreline is fringed by oak trees and vegetation, and there are centuries-old villages to explore, with mills, fishermens’ cottages and maritime traditions.

With 56 miles of shoreline walks, you can discover Chichester Harbour by foot as well as by boat, especially at low tide when much of the harbour is drying.

Chichester Marina

Chichester Marina was one of the first marinas to be built in the UK, opening in the mid-1960s, with a state-of-the-art boatyard being rebuilt in 2014.

Despite being the UK’s second largest marina its rural setting and low-key architecture add to the tranquil vibe, with nature walks right on the doorstep.

Holder of a Five Gold Anchors award, Premier Chichester marina is home to 1,100 berths, a boatyard with two boat hoists, slipway and boatshed.

Chichester Marina sits comfortably in its natural surroundings. Credit: Charlie Ross

On-site services include a chandlery, brokerage, rigging , cosmetic work, valeting and engineering.

The Boat House offers indoor and outdoor eating with harbour views and has a pizza oven which sells out on summer days.

Nearby Chichester Yacht Club is open day and night for food and coffee, and marina berth-holders and visitors have guest access.

A nice walk from the marina along the wooded, harbourside path takes you to Dell Quay, where you’ll find the traditional Crown & Anchor pub.

Facilities at Chichester Marina

Boats can be accommodated up to 22m length, 7m beam and 2.3m draught. Versadock (drive-on floating dock) is available as well as trailer sailer options for smaller craft.

Credit: Maggie Nelson

The marina offers secure berth holder parking, luxury toilets and showers and free wifi. For family and friends, or owners not wanting to stay overnight aboard, Premier has nine New England-style apartments ‘The Salterns’ situated within the marina.

Approach to Chichester Marina

Approach by sea is via the west pole beacon – cross Chichester Bar located at the entrance to the harbour. Once inside the harbour, head north-east past East Head and towards Itchenor.

The marina approach channel is dredged to approx. 0.5m below CD – vessels entering the marina should keep to the starboard side of the channel.

Chichester Bar is located at the entrance to the harbour and is dredged to approximately 1.5m below chart datum giving a depth of 2m at mean low water Springs; however, the bottom can vary up to 0.75m.

One to keep an eye on – tidal gauge indicates sill depth at the entrance to Emsworth harbour. Credit: Tony Cortazzi/Alamy

With an ebb tide and strong southerly winds, exercise caution and cross the Bar between three hours before and one hour after high water Springs.

As you approach Longmore Point ensure your VHF is on Ch80; on passing Birdham Spit pile call the marina using your boat’s call sign, advise your position and request lock entry.

View of Bosham from across the creek which mostly dries. Credit: Paul Weston/Alamy

The lock keeper will acknowledge your call and either instruct you to proceed to the lock on a green light or, in busy times, join the back of the queue for the lock and enter in turn upon a green signal light.

Day cruises

The Solent is just on your doorstep offering easy access east or west to some of the UK’s most popular cruising grounds.

Within a day’s sail of Chichester Marina you can visit the Isle of Wight or take a long leisurely cruise to picturesque Beaulieu River (with Buckler’s Hard and Beaulieu Motor Museum) and Lymington Harbour.

Weekend cruises

Chichester is an excellent start point for cross-Channel cruises and trips to Premier’s Gosport, Port Solent, Swanwick, Brighton and Eastbourne marinas – where berth holders can use their 42 free visitor night credits.

Longer distance

A little further afield you’ve got the West Country, Channel Islands, Cherbourg and the Brittany coastline.

Local attractions

Nestled at the foot of the South Downs, Chichester has many sandy beaches, fishing villages and family attractions including Goodwood House and Racecourse.

Chichester Marina is just four miles from the historic city of Chichester, with its theatres, galleries, 900-year-old cathedral, and the Novium Museum, charting 500,000 years of life in the city.

A Southerly 49 takes the ground on the beach at East Head. Credit: Michael Austen/Alamy

A short drive away is the village of Fishbourne, with the remains of a Roman Palace and gardens.

Further around the harbour takes you to the quaint village of Bosham with its village green and arts and crafts centre.

In addition to the small beach by the marina – where you can swim at high tide – there are the sandy beaches of East Head and The Witterings, with long unspoilt coastline stretching from West Wittering Beach to Bracklesham Bay.

• Chichester Marina, Birdham, Chichester, West Sussex PO20 7EJ. VHF Ch80. Tel: 01243 512731, premiermarinas.com
• Chichester Harbour Conservancy, conservancy.co.uk

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Local Knowledge about Chichester Marina and harbour

Peter Draper has a Dunkirk Little Ship

If you’ve a high-speed powerboat, Chichester Harbour isn’t for you. If you have a yacht or like to potter it’s ideal.

It’s a beautiful place: safe, secure inland cruising with many little creeks, and places to visit such as Emsworth and Bosham.

There’s a plethora of wildlife, and it’s also great for dinghy sailors.

I own a 1927 pilchard fishing boat, Caronia – which helped in the World War II evacuation of Dunkirk.

I’ve spent over a decade restoring her with my son and love to sail out of Chichester.

The harbour is a wonderful place to be. It’s what I consider the garden gate to the West Country.

Once through the gate you’ve got the safety and security of the Solent.

There’s Cowes, Bembridge on the Isle of Wight, and Lymington on the other side. Gosport is good for a night out, and then if you want to go further, have a stopover over in Yarmouth and you can do Poole or even Weymouth in a day’s sail (say 6 or 7 knots).

From there, you’re a day away from Dartmouth. Of course in a motorboat you’re in the West Country in a day.

• Peter runs Navigator’s Marine, based in Chichester Marina, navigatorsmarine.co.uk . His book Restoring a Dunkirk Little Ship: Caronia SS70 is available on Amazon

Gilbert Park has a Trusty T23 motorboat

If you can get to Emsworth Town Quay and be prepared to leave on the tide, it’s a marvellous place to visit.

There are lots of shops and lovely pubs and eateries, including a Michelin restaurant.

There’s a visitor mooring 1km away at all states of the tide, where you can dinghy in. West Head is extremely popular because of the sandy beach.

If I want to take my grandchildren there I’ll go in a boat that dries out in the morning and leave in the afternoon. It’s wonderful.

You’ve got all the facilities on the beach, and there’s an anchorage too.

For peace and quiet and a wonderful sunset, I go to Itchenor – there’s a lovely anchorage there.

If you prefer marinas, then Chichester Marina has all the facilities you need.

Traditional boats like to go to Birdham, and my grandchildren particularly like Northney Marina because it has a play area and barbecue spot.

Bosham is very pretty and dates back to the time of the Bayeux tapestry. Chichester is also a great place for birdwatchers.

We get all sorts of migratory birds stopping here, as well as lots of seals.

Adam McMenemy sails a Sabre 27

I have a fin keel boat so I have to be a bit careful about where I go. I like to explore the stretch of water from Chichester marina to Itchenor.

Bosham creek is beautiful too. There are visitor moorings there and you can stay overnight.

My favourite spot is Hayling Island Sailing Club. It’s a beautiful little club, and has sandy beaches, fantastic views, good food and the bar’s always open.

Visiting yachtsmen are welcome at the club.

From Hayling Island it’s not too far to Birdham Pool, which is a great place to have lunch. I work as a marine electrician out of Emsworth Yacht Harbour in Emsworth Marina.

It’s a really nice village.

The marina is tidal, but it has a sill, so once you’re in you’ve got water.

East Head beach is half an hour’s walk from West Wittering so it’s mostly only sailors who go there.

There’s a sandy beach with dunes around it, and you can anchor overnight.

• Adam runs ACM Marine, facebook.com/AcmMarine

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Chichester Yacht Club

Chichester Yacht Club is an all year round members’ Club renowned for its friendly, informal atmosphere. The Clubhouse has a restaurant and bar with excellent facilities for all the family. Chichester Yacht Club welcomes visiting boats and rallies.

Chichester Yacht Club Chichester Marina Chichester West Sussex PO20 7EJ United Kingdom

• +44 (0)1243 512 918
• Website: www.cyc.co.uk

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Join Chichester Yacht Club

Membership of the Club is open to all with an interest in boating :  you do not need to own a boat to join .

Categories and annual subscriptions from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 are:

You can pay for your membership in full or in monthly instalments, payable by direct debit in 12 equal instalments on the 15th of each month. 

Please note that if you pay monthly and leave before the end of the membership year, the remaining fees will need to be paid in full.  If joining during the year, the annual fee is reduced to reflect the number of months remaining in the year.

For those wishing to store their dinghy or canoe in the Club Dinghy Park, further fees are payable. The Club office can provide details of spaces available.

As well as gaining access to all the Clubs facilities and sailing & social events, full members also benefit from a  15% discount  for purchases at the Club restaurant and bar and reduced rates for training courses. In addition, members of the Club may have exclusive discounts from a select number of national and local businesses that serve the boating community.

** Concessions  are available for Single Parents.

*** For under 18 with member sponsor

Please  feel free to visit the Club  at a time convenient to you so our team and members can show you round the Club and explain in more details how to gain the most from membership.

Corporate Membership

For Corporate membership, please contact the Club for more information.

Last updated 10:52 on 31 May 2024

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A quiet spot that’s full of character

For a chilled-out break by the water, come moor up with us at Birdham Pool Waterside & Marina. Tucked away on the calm waters of the Chichester Harbour, this marina has something really special about it. Expect still waters, loads of wildlife, friendly staff and uninterrupted views across the harbour.   

This marina’s got a long history behind it, so it’s full of character. Opened in 1937, it’s one of the oldest marinas in the country – but you’ve still got all the modern stuff you need to enjoy life on the water. It’s a real mix of the old and new here – we think that’s what makes it so unique.   

When you’re done relaxing by the water, Chichester is only a few miles away – there’s loads of transport links from Birdham, so it’s really easy to get to.   

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See the marina layout

We’ve got all your practical needs covered with a full array of Aquavista brilliant basics that you’d expect from modern waterside living including:  

Safety & security  

• A secure marina with gated access to jetties and CCTV  
• All jetties are well-lit at night  
• 24-hour emergency call out   

Facilities  

• Toilet & shower facilities, open 24/7  
• Laundrette, open 24/7  
• Customer lounge and sun deck  
• Ample free car parking  
• Free high speed Wi-Fi  
• Refuse and recycling facilities  
• Seasonal on-site Cafe  
• A lock that is manned three hours before and four hours after Portsmouth high water   
• Fully serviced jetties with metered electricity and water  
• Marine trades for all areas of maintenance and repair  
• Crane/boat mover with 30 tonnes lifting capacity  
• Undercover storage  
• Winter storage afloat and ashore for up to 14m  
• On site Boat Brokerage  

Price match guarantee

We’re offering a price match guarantee on all brand-new to Aquavista leisure contracts taken out for a minimum duration of 4 consecutive months by 30th September 2024*

* Terms & conditions apply - click here to view

Mooring packages

Your mooring options at Brinklow Waterside & Marina are:

If you choose an annual contract, either residential or leisure, as well as access to all of the facilities you also receive:

• Explore 100  – Free stop-overs at other marinas in the Aquavista group
• Moor Benefits – Access to our exclusive Moor Benefits programme
• A choice of payment options – quarterly or annual
• Regular newsletters and surveys – We make sure you’re up to date with any important news about our marinas, and we love getting your feedback on how we’re doing

Lock Capacity:   Beam: Max 4.5m/14.8ft  Length: Max overall 14.5m/47.6ft   Draft: Max 1.9m/6.2ft  Depth: Depth over the sill @3 hours before and 4 hours after 1.2m 

Birdham Pool Waterside & Marina photo gallery

Cruise Further for Less with TransEurope Marina Membership

We’re also members of TransEurope Marinas, which means our customers can enjoy half-price berthing for up to five days per year in 80 marinas across 12 European countries. 

Explore the beauty of the UK coastline, discover the Iberian Rías or travel south for the warmth of the Canaries. From the calm waters of the Baltic to the historic Aegean, make the most of TransEurope Marinas to explore new destinations.

Simply use your Pick a Pier membership code when booking at any participating marina.

Things to do in the local area

Birdham Pool Marina is a super tranquil spot – but there’s still loads to do nearby. A 20-minute walk will take you to Birdham village, where you’ll find a Nisa shop and a garden centre. As well as plants, the garden centre’s got a farm shop and a homeware section – there’s some really nice nautical stuff in there.   

There’s also a bunch of nice places to eat around the village – our favourites are The Lamb Inn, Thyme and Chillies Indian, The Potager Restaurant and The Cider House Kitchen. For more food options, Chichester city centre is only a short drive (or bus ride) away.   

If you want to spend some time on the beach, you’re only a few miles away from Bracklesham Bay and West Wittering beaches – you can get there by following the Salterns Way, which is a foot and cycle path that runs from Chichester to West Wittering. There’s always loads of water sports going on down there, but if that’s not your thing, there’s also some really great cafés and bistros.  

Birdham Pool’s Boatyard forms part of a marine service centre with many skilled craftsmen and engineers onsite. Marine trades for all areas of boat maintenance and repair. Birdham Pool is a popular and busy boatyard. We offer the following services for boats wishing to come ashore:  

• Lift and scrub  
• Antifouling and painting
• Stepping / unstepping and storage of masts  

There are laying up facilities in the yard with space for approximately 90 craft plus limited covered storage.  

Lifting Capacity - We have a new crane capable of lifting boats of up to 30 tonnes and a boat mover capable of transporting boats of up to 30 tonnes  

Maintenance and Repairs - A number of skilled craftsmen and engineers operate from Birdham Marine Service Centre. From wooden boat specialists to marine engineers. They are available to help you with restoration, repair and maintenance projects on your boat and will be pleased to discuss your boating issues and requirements.  

The Old Boatshed     GRP specialises in fabrications, bow thrusters, holding tanks, polishing, and rib repairs.   Kevin Horn Tel: 07766 521575  

Tim Gilmore Ltd     repairs, restores, and maintains wooden boats.   Tim Gilmore Tel: 01243 513872   http://www.woodenboatsforever.co.uk    

If you are looking for a boatyard for your boat, offering great service at competitive prices, contact Birdham Pool Marina at 01243 512310 or email us at [email protected] .  

Opening hours

Contact our friendly Waterside Crew:  

Birdham Pool Waterside & Marina office is open 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday and closed on Saturday and Sunday  

You can call us on 01243 512310  and we will be more than happy to help you or arrange an appointment to view the marina.

During seasonal and bank holidays our typical office hours may vary, please call the waterside office before making a visit.  

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To moor with us at Birdham Pool Waterside & Marina please get in touch

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Navigating into Birdham Pool  

Birdham Pool can be found on the southern edge of Chichester lake, inside Chichester Harbour and is a non-tidal basin except at high water springs, when the lock is operated on free flow at the top of the tide. The lock is available three hours before and four hours after Portsmouth high water within the locking hours below.  

The duty Lock Keeper can be contacted on  07831 466815  or  01243 511482  during the normal operational times and VHF Channel 80 for locking instructions. Locking at other times is available by prior arrangement with the lock keeper.  

Tidal gauges are located on the seaward side of the channel to Birdham Pool Waterside & Marina and on the Channel Piles. These indicate the height of the water on the lock sill.  

The channel is approximately 9m in width and has adjacent mud banks on both sides. Follow line of posts leaving them 4 metres to starboard.  

Lock landline:  01243 511482   Lock Mobile:    07831 466815   VHF Channel:  80 (Call Sign - Birdham Pool Marina)  

17 th  Oct – 28 th  Oct 06:00 – 22:00

29 th  Oct – 31 st  Dec 07:00 – 18:00

Closed 25 th  and 26 th  December

1 st  Jan – 30 th  March 7:00 – 18:00

31 st  March – 26 th  October 6:00 – 22:00

27 th  October – 31 st  December 7:00 – 18:00

Chichester Harbour

The sheltered waters of Chichester Harbour are ideal for racing and day sailing. Please observe the 8 knots speed limit which is enforced for the whole of Chichester Harbour. Over 10,000 craft use the harbour and there are some 5,500 moorings and 14 sailing clubs with over 11,000 members. Other popular activities include angling, birdwatching, walking, wildfowling, painting and photography. The landscape of Chichester Harbour was formally recognised as being of national importance in 1964 when it was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 

Chichester Yacht Club

A ten minute walk from Birdham Pool Waterside & Marina is Chichester Yacht Club, an all year round members' Club renowned for its friendly, informal atmosphere. The Clubhouse has fabulous views over Chichester Harbour, a restaurant & bar together with excellent facilities for all the family. All berth holders at Birdham Pool Waterside & Marina are welcome to become members of Chichester Yacht Club.

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Chichester Yacht Club

Chichester Yacht Club is a friendly members club offering a year-round programme of cruising, racing, training and social events. The club benefits from a beautiful harbourside location with a large modern clubhouse, waterside gardens, restaurant and bar together with excellent facilities for the family.

Convenient access to the sheltered waters of Chichester Harbour provides an ideal environment for those learning to sail and an attractive area for racing and cruising.

The club has three main sections: Yacht, Dinghy and Motor and many members also use the excellent location as a base for wing foiling, canoeing, paddleboarding and windsurfing or as a hospitality venue.

Yacht Club Chichester Marina  Birdham West Sussex PO20 7EJ

Tel:  01243512918

Web:  www.cyc.co.uk

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Opening hours.

The Bar offers a wide range of products including draught lagers – San Miguel and Shipyard Portland Lager along with Sommersby Cider, Shipyard Pale Ale & Draught Guinness. We have a selection of Ales available on the bar including Youngs Original, Courage Best and Courage Directors with local bitters changing seasonally.

The Bar also stock a wide range of wines (by the bottle & glass), 0% Alcohol products, spirits and soft drinks, along with freshly made coffee and cakes.

Where to Order

– we will require your membership card for all payment transactions, we will be unable to apply the discount if we are unable to swipe your card.

Ordering indoors

We currently offer table service inside the Club i.e. our Main Restaurant, Quarter Deck and Conservatory. Upon arrival, please see a member of staff who will direct you to your table.

Paying your bill

Our Restaurant staff will ask if you would like anything else (dessert, drinks, coffee etc.), if the answer is no, we ask for your clubcard, so that we can apply your discount and settle the bull. Before you leave, please confirm with a member of staff that your restaurant bill has been settled.

Ordering outdoors 

Please place all drink orders at the bar; food orders are placed at the till by the kitchen, you will be given a buzzer for your food order to be collected from the hatch opposite the bar.

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