Yarmouth is located off the south coast of England on the Isle of Wight and immediately within the Western Solent. It is a harbour town with a marina that offers a wide range of berthing options, including swing moorings and the possibility of anchoring outside the harbour.

The small and well-enclosed harbour provides good protection but can be subject to considerable swell in strong north-to-northeasterly winds. The swing moorings and anchorage outside are open to northerly component conditions and severe tide rode, making them uncomfortable in anything but very settled conditions. Safe access is provided in all reasonable conditions, night or day, and at any stage of the tide.

This small and very popular harbour can get overrun when hosting events or at weekends during the sailing season.

Keyfacts for Yarmouth

Position and approaches

Haven position

50° 42.414' N, 001° 30.070' W

This is the position of the dolphin on the west side of the entrance, carrying a light QG 3M, set off the head of the breakwater extending from the western shore.

What is the initial fix?

This is set just outside the 10 metre contour, 200 metres out from the front light of the leading lights on the Quay. It is set on the 187½° T alignment of the marks.

What are the key points of the approach?

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What's the story here?

Yarmouth is a small historic town and harbour that lies on the northwest coast of the Isle of Wight. It is located just under a mile east of Sconce Point and is the Island's most westerly harbour. The harbour is lies behind a breakwater, extending from the western bank of the River Yar, and a short ferry jetty is situated beneath the town's small castle on the east side. A historic wooden pier extends about 200 metres to seaward from the east side of its historic castle, and a church, with a conspicuous square tower, stands in the town 150 metres inland from the root of the pier. The small town is the terminus of the busy Wightlink ferry service that crosses from Lymington and is a very popular location for visiting leisure craft.



The harbour has up to 250 visitor berths, of which 30 or more are available for visitors during the summer. The harbour is dredged to 2 metres from the entrance to the swing bridge and can accommodate vessels of over 40 metres (131ft 3in) on request.




Being deep, accessible at all states of the tide, and ideally located close to the Needles and the English Channel, Yarmouth receives 100,000 visitors by boat each year. Being relatively small, this level of boating activity can easily overrun its capabilities, especially on a fine summer weekend or when the town is holding an event. As such it is advisable to book at least 24 hours in advance of arrival to be certain of a berth by +44 (0)1983 760321 option 1, 24x365, by bookings bookings@yarmouth-harbour.co.uk or book directly via their website's web form.

Berthing options include walk-ashore pontoons and other mid-harbour detached pontoons that require a dinghy or water taxi to alight. Expect to raft up during busy periods, and this is especially the case with the walk-ashore pontoons. Some 'fore and aft' piles still remain, but pontoons are gradually replacing them.

The various berthing options attract slightly different fees. For full details, please refer to the 2025 harbour charge sheet . The following provides a [2025] charging indication based on the most convenient finger berths. Visitor rates are applicable overnight, from midday to midday. Charities or booked rallies can benefit from some discounts.



Visitor walk ashore finger berth charges:

• Up to & inc 6m (19ft 6in) £28.50


• Over 6m (19ft 6in) to & inc 7.5m (24ft 6in) £35.00


• Over 7.5m (24ft 6in) to & inc 9m (29ft 6in) £42.00


• Over 9m (29ft 6in) to & inc 10.5m (34ft 3in) £49.00


• Over 10.5m (34ft 3in) to & inc 12m (39ft 3in) £56.50


• Over 12m (39ft 3in) to & inc 13.5m (44ft 3in) £64.00


• Over 13.5m (44ft 3in) to & inc 15m (49ft) £72.50


• Over 15m (49ft) to & inc 18m (59ft) £90.00


• Electric hook-up is £5.00 per day

Visiting Craft Outer Moorings and Visiting Craft Anchoring:

• Up to & inc 6m (19ft 6in) 20.00


• Over 6m (19ft 6in) to & inc 7.5m (24ft 6in) £25.00


• Over 7.5m (24ft 6in) to & inc 9m (29ft 6in) £29.50


• Over 9m (29ft 6in) to & inc 10.5m (34ft 3in) £32.50


• Over 10.5m (34ft 3in) to & inc 12m (39ft 3in) £38.00


• Over 12m (39ft 3in) to & inc 13.5m (44ft 3in) £42.00


• Over 13.5m (44ft 3in) to & inc 15m (49ft) £48.50


• Over 15m (49ft) to & inc 18m (59ft) £59.00


• Over 18m (59ft) to & inc 21m (68ft 6in) £73.50


• Over 21m (68ft 6in) to & inc 24m (78ft 6in) £89.50


• Over 24m (78ft 6in) to & inc 27m (88ft 6in) £126.00


• Over 27m (88ft 6in) to & inc 30m (98ft 3in) £162.50


• Over 30m (98ft 3in) to & inc 33m (108ft 3in) £210.50


• Over 33m (108ft 3in) to & inc 36m (118ft) £276.50


• Over 36m (118ft) to & inc 40m (131ft 3in) £375.50

When the harbour is full, signs with the words 'Harbour Full' are displayed on either side of the entrance, one on the northern end of the short pier for the ferry and one on the dolphin. A red flag is also flown from the flag pole on the Wightlink ferry jetty. By night, a 'Harbour Full' sign entrance is illuminated. Should the harbour be full, there is usually room for visitors outside the breakwater on visitors' swing moorings, and anchoring is permitted outside the line of moorings.

The harbour office created an excellent Yarmouth map to assist you in finding your way around.

How to get in?

Guidance and a tidal timer for a Western approach can be found in Western Approaches to The Solent and the run-up to Southampton . Yarmouth will have made itself known from a distance by its breakwater, yacht rigs, the distinctive square church steeple and the stream of Wightlink ferries entering and exiting the harbour. Be prepared to stand off if a ferry is approaching or exiting.




Vessels on close approaches from the west should keep well clear to the north of Black Rock, marked by the green conical Black Rock, Fl G 5s. Keep north of the lines of mooring buoys laid outside of the harbour and north of the breakwater. Do not cut inside these mooring lines as the area between them and the breakwater is shoal. Steer towards the initial fix located slightly southeast of the midpoint of the yellow spherical Poole Belle Buoy, Fl Y 5s, and the East Fairway buoy, Fl R 2s.




Vessels on close approaches from the east should steer for the East Fairway buoy, Fl R 2s. The initial fix is located about 180 metres southwest of the buoy. It is possible for a vessel approaching from the east to cut in, but the helm should stand out at least 50 metres clear north of Yarmouth Pier to avoid entangling anglers' fishing lines.

Vessels approaching the harbour from the north should close on the island shore a little up-tide of the harbour entrance to allow for the Solent tides.




The principal concern when approaching Yarmouth is the ferry service traversing between Lymington and Yarmouth every 30 minutes. This is especially important for vessels approaching from the east, where the wooden pier may hide converging vessels from either direction. The helm should also be attentive to wash and turbulence from the ferries, even when berthed.



When passing the Black Rock or East Fairway buoys, depending upon the direction of approach, you should have made contact with the harbour office on Ch. 68, [Yarmouth Harbour] to inform them of your intentions and take instructions from the Berthing Masters. Vessels should be ready to come alongside on both port and starboard sides and maintain a listening watch on [VHF] Ch. 68 until made fast.




The initial fix establishes an approach through the main entrance channel utilised by the ferries, so be aware that Rule 9 of the IRPCS, which pertains to Vessels in Narrow Channels, applies. If a ferry is moving, leisure craft must give way. The helm should also note that the Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat is stationed on the South Quay inside the harbour and can depart quickly at any time without warning.




The 400 metres wide entrance will be plainly seen from the initial fix. When the car ferry is on its berth, the adjacent harbour entrance is considerably reduced but made more apparent. When it is out, its jetty and castle will be prominent on the east side of the entrance with the head of the ferry pier carrying a light 2 F.R (vert) 5m2M. The long breakwater extending from the west, with a dolphin off its head, stands opposite on the western side of the harbour entrance, the dolphin carries a light QG 3M.




The harbour's leading marks are on the ferry jetty on the eastern side of the entrance. The front a white metal post carrying a white diamond black band. The rear mark, 63 metres south of the front mark, carries a white diamond with a black band on a white mast. The approach channel is set on the 187½° T alignment of the marks and has a minimum depth of 2.5 metres chart datum. Both marks flash green by night, but the leading lights are only realistically distinguished from the ferry bridge. At the lower levels, as seen from a leisure vessel, they tend to merge into the clutter of town lights in the backdrop. Night entry is nonetheless relatively straightforward as the lights of the town make Yarmouth readily apparent from a distance, and on final approaches, the lights over the pier and jetty provide a good guide.




On the final approach, the helm should guard against tidal flows in the entrance and within the harbour. Streams can be very strong, particularly at half flood and ebb, where on Springs rates can exceed 4 knots, and it is easy to get swept off course. Because of the tidal streams and the activity level in the harbour area, it is entirely inadvisable to enter under sail.


The speed limit is reduced to 6 knots from the abeam of the head of Yarmouth's wooden pier and throughout all the outer moorings to the Black Rock. Immediately within the entrance, the speed limit is reduced to 4 knots at the dolphin. Vessels should, however, proceed at a moderate speed on the approach, proceed at a dead-slow speed up to the entrance and be prepared to queue in a constrained area.




The very helpful Berthing Masters normally pick up visitors at the entrance, escorting them to their designated berths on the starboard side within the harbour. The whole harbour area has a maintained depth of 2.0 metres LAT, but it is constrained, and berthing masters will both direct vessels to their designated berths and provide help in coming alongside.





Three lines of moorings are laid outside the harbour from March to October. Vessels up to 18 metres LOA should come alongside the outer line with a single outlying mooring off to the east to accommodate a vessel of up to 24 metres LOA. Vessels from 9 – 13 metres should come alongside the middle line, and vessels up to 9 metres the inner line. The moorings follow the 3-metre contour except for two at the western end that carry 2 metres.




Anchoring is permitted north of the moorings, but you must pay harbour dues. Sand, shingle holding is excellent, but the tidal stream is very strong, especially on Springs. There should be no anchoring that could obstruct a fairway or harbour navigation.




The mooring and anchoring area is entirely exposed to the north and severely tide-rode. From my experience, securing a berth inside the harbour is advisable, as the tides outside can be so strong during peak spring tides as to make the mooring feel like passage making. The internal berth is well worth it for approximately a third increase in cost to come inside.




Those landing by tender should come alongside the pontoon adjacent to the slipway in the southeast corner of the harbour.

At the Harbour Master's discretion, the South Quay pontoon, located west of the RNLI Lifeboat, may be used by vessels to set down passengers, take on fresh water or load or unload stores. These berths are for set down only and can only be used for up to 20 minutes. Vessels cannot be left unattended here and may need to be moved immediately should the RNLI Lifeboat have to leave in an emergency.




The River Yar rises near the beach at Freshwater Bay on the island's south coast, flowing only a few miles north to exit at Yarmouth. It is part of the Isle of Wight's Outstanding Natural Beauty Area and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.




Visiting yachts are not allowed above the River Yar's swinging road bridge, but the upper reaches of the beautiful River Yar are accessible via tender. The bridge opens at fixed intervals throughout the day: BST at 0800, 0900, 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600, 1730, 1830, and 2000; during the winter months, it opens by request only. However, ample space exists for a dinghy to pass underneath at all tide states. At high water, the estuary is navigable to the old stone 'causeway' bridge near Freshwater Church, which is little more than a mile from Freshwater Bay on the island's south side.

Why visit here?

Yarmouth takes its name from the Saxon word 'ermud,' or 'éaren', and 'mútha', which means 'gravelly or muddy estuary'. The name of the place it specifically refers to is the mouth of the River Yar, and the river took its name from its estuary. The first recorded name for the site was 'Ermud' in King Ethelred the Unready's tax records in 991, and it was recorded as the same in the 1086 Domesday book. In 1223 it was recorded as Ernemuth and by the 14th Century it had evolved to Yaremuthe which softened to its present spelling and pronunciation.



The more sheltered adjacent Thorley was the original port, but Thorley Creek, through which it was accessed, gradually silted up. The 1664 mill causeway, built to create a mill pond for Yarmouth mill, sealed off the remains of the silted Thorley Creek, but is clearly visible in early maps where Yarmouth appeared almost an island. A landing place nearer to the sea had to be developed after Thorley Creek silted up, and this was Yarmouth. The 991 tax receipts recorded Saxon families named Aluric and Wislac living here, and the same names, most likely the direct family descendants, appear again in the 1086 Domesday book. This makes Yarmouth one of the Isle of Wight's very earliest settlements. It would briefly become one of the island's most important towns after the Norman Conquest.



Along with Newport and Newtown, then known as Francheville, the three towns were planned boroughs established on the island in the 12th century. The position of all three centres is that of navigable estuaries and sheltered harbours, which are more focused on their trading capability than on any access to good quality agricultural land. Baldwin de Redvers, Lord of the Isle of Wight, granted Yarmouth its first charter in 1135. It conferred on the inhabitants, their heirs and successors, security of tenure and a release from the slavery of serfdom. This made Yarmouth one of the most important towns and ports on the Island and, along with Newtown, it returned members to parliament as one borough in 1295 and continued to do so as a parliamentary borough until 1832. The two neighbouring towns flourished in the 13th century, albeit with Newtown developing faster and becoming more prominent. Baldwin de Redvers, a descendant of Isabella de Fortibus, sold the island to Edward I in 1293 for 6000 marks. Henceforth, the island was governed by wardens appointed by the crown, who were styled captains in the reign of Henry VII.




But the 14th century was to bring disaster in the form of war and pestilence, as in 1349, the Black Death came to Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. One third of the population was believed to have died, but coastal areas took the brunt of the suffering, with losses of more than 50% in many cases. This outbreak and the subsequent recurrences brought Yarmouth to its knees. Then, in the latter half of the 14th century, the island was to firmly establish itself as the front line of what would become 800 years of intermittent warfare between England and France. To make things worse, the island was seen to be a critical strategic foothold for any attempted invasion of England.




In 1330, the French invaded Yarmouth and St. Helens. The King's Warden of the Island at that time, Sir Theobald Russell, succeeded in routing them, although he was mortally wounded in battle. The island, along with Portsmouth, faced another attack by the French in March 1338. Even worse was to come in 1377 when a combined French and Spanish raid burned Yarmouth to the ground and killed many of its inhabitants. This raid also completely devastated Newtown and Freshwater and laid siege to Carisbrooke Castle.




The island endured another attack in 1381, and in 1402, a French army of 1,700 men landed and raided several island villages. The French struck again in 1403, plundering much of the island before being counter-attacked and driven off by forces from Portsmouth and Southampton. In 1545, the most serious French invasion occurred, supported by 130 ships, resulting in terrible destruction across the island. Yarmouth was set ablaze, and its church bells were taken to Cherbourg or Boulogne. Once more, the Captain of the Island, Richard Worsley, led a brave defence by local militia, repulsing the invaders and saving the island.




The raids and frequent invasive scares took an enormous toll on the islanders. Landowners sent their wives and families to the safety of the mainland for the summer months, which had become known as the 'invasion season'. The invasions and scares were accompanied by calls on the town to provide ships and men to invade France. The burden of which was so great that islanders were abandoning the island, and sanctions had to be introduced by the crown to prevent the Island from becoming deserted.




The 1545 raid, known as the Battle of the Solent, was pivotal. In this encounter, Henry VIII dispatched his flagship, the Mary Rose, against the French, only to witness it founder before his eyes from Southsea Castle. Realising how close he came to losing the Isle of Wight, he ordered the construction of forts at Cowes, Sandown, Freshwater, and Yarmouth, which corresponded with those on the shore.





Yarmouth Castle was built from stone on a church site that had been destroyed by the French in 1547. The square stone artillery fort, measuring 30 metres across, was initially equipped with 15 artillery guns and a garrison of 20 men. Despite being small and relatively basic in design, it featured a different style from the earlier circular bastions used in the Henrican Device Forts. It was the first of its kind to be constructed in England. In 1589, during the anticipation of a Spanish invasion, a small fort named Carey's Sconce was built to the west of the town, after the Island's governor, Sir George Carey. Although this earth and wood structure has long since disappeared, it had an innovative five-pointed star shape. The fort was renamed Carey's Sconce, thereby bestowing the name Sconce Point to the headland where it once stood.




The French raids finally ended with establishing Henry VIII's organised lines of defence. After this, ever-present and endemic corruption became the largest impediment to the town's development. The appointment of Sir Robert Holmes as Governor of the Island in 1668 was an important event that would shape Yarmouth's history. Holmes filled in the moat of Yarmouth Castle, which had never experienced a shot fired in anger, built himself a house on its eastern edge, now the George Hotel, and made it his home on the island. It was a place where he could keep a keen eye on the lucrative opportunity the 'vice-admiralty of the Isle of Wight', Newport and Hampshire, provided him. This was the right to two-thirds of the value of all prizes, belonging either to an 'enemy of England' or to a 'a pretended neutral' he seized in these waters. Holmes took a wide and liberal interpretation of the phrase 'a pretended neutral' through which he could add considerably to his wealth during his 20-year stay.




Holmes brought stability to Yarmouth and control of the town. But after his death in 1692, the corruption, privilege, and struggle for power revived, lowering the town into a phase of moral and political decay. The disintegration reduced the population to about 240 during the 18th century. The 19th century saw some revival with Yarmouth Pier opening in 1876. It was originally 207.5 metres (685 ft.) long, now 186 metres (609 ft.), to accommodate ferries from Lymington and other mainland ports and receive steamers from other ports and piers along the Isle of Wight. It was not until the first decade of the 20th century that the breakdown of Victorian society's rigid class distinctions began, culminating in the post-Great War social revolution, which helped Yarmouth finally become a prosperous meritocracy. The port's traffic grew, and tourism once again made Yarmouth an important town.




Today, with a population of little more than a thousand, Yarmouth remains a town of modest proportions and one of the smallest towns in the country. It remains a working port with a small fishing fleet and a regular ferry service to and from Lymington on the mainland. Its economy is essentially based on fishing, yachting, and tourism.




Visitors will find the old town's Norman grid system of streets still well evident and utterly charming. The food is excellent here, and plenty of local pubs and restaurants are renowned for the quality of their food. An often overlooked pleasure is a dinghy trip to the upper reaches of the River Yar that provides a wonderful day out for visiting boaters. There are a host of delightful walks in the area, with a walk out to The Needles available for the more energetic. For the less energetic, there is a hop-on, hop-off tour bus every 30 minutes that serves a number of places of interest in the West Wight area, including the Needles Old Battery and Alum Bay.




From a boating perspective, it is an essential Solent cruising destination and an arrival or departure point for the English Channel and beyond.




Being the westernmost port on the Isle of Wight, the town makes for an ideal staging point for longer journeys. This is particularly true with the Channel Islands being a day sail, about 100 miles away.

What facilities are available?

The walk ashore pontoons have power and water – although they require a vessel to have its own hose. Water is also available on the South Quay, and Town Quay has a Fuel Berth that supplies diesel and petrol. Excellent showers and laundrette facilities are available ashore if charged separately. The harbour has a sewage pump out facility, waste oil disposal capabilities and a slipway. Calor Gas, Camping Gaz and ice are available from the Harbour Office. Wi-Fi access via Click4Internet – via an on-line payment.

A crane is available for use on the West Quay. Safe Working Load 5 Tonnes except when using the lifting frame when the maximum is reduced to 4.5 tonnes. There is also a wash down facility. The town has a chandlery and a wide range of specialist services, from sail and rigging services to marine electronics, GRP repairs and cosmetic work and engineering. There are several restaurants, bars and cafes in the town and some basic provisioning.

Bus Route 7 leaves from Yarmouth Bus Station to Newport, which is a hub for the main Island destinations.
The Needles Breezer is a one hour open top bus tour of the West Wight which leaves from Yarmouth every 30 minutes during the day in the sailing season.

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred to a vessel visiting Yarmouth. The harbour maintains a night watchperson: outside office hours, April to October. CCTV is in operation and monitored all year round. Regular land-based patrols are carried out and include areas of the harbour, river, dinghy park and pier.

With thanks to:

Michael Harpur S/Y Whistler.