Brighton is a seaside resort on the south coast of England situated forty miles eastward of the Isle of Wight. It is a busy cosmopolitan city that offers visiting craft a large-scale marina complex.

Brighton Marina offers complete protection from all conditions. The harbour’s well marked and the wide entrance provides safe access at all stages of tides, night and day, in all reasonable conditions except for a southeast gale. It is, however, not that deep and vessels carrying anything more than a moderate draft should check the available depth at low water.

Keyfacts for Brighton

Position and approaches

Haven position

50° 48.504' N, 000° 6.382' W

This is at the head of the West Breakwater that exhibits a light Q.R. 10m7M. The harbours southeast facing entrance is situated immediately to the north.

What is the initial fix?

This is immediately outside the harbour's southeast facing entrance.

What are the key points of the approach?

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What's the story here?

Brighton is a seaside resort city on the south coast of England situated a little over 6 miles west by northwest of Newhaven. It is part of the city of Brighton and Hove with a population in excess of a quarter of a million, which makes for a sizable and cosmopolitan city. The extensive Brighton Marina, a large artificial harbour protected by two curved breakwaters, fronts the shore at the east end of the city and this is the only landing place the city offers.

The very large marina complex is operated by Premier Marinas and has up to 1,200 berths with ample reserved for visitors. It is capable of receiving boats up to 41 metres carrying a draft of 2.3 metres. The entrance channel is dredged to – 1.7 metres C.D. but storms cause shoaling on its eastern side between annual dredges. If operating on the margins the marina office will be delighted to advise on the current position. Brighton Marina Reception may be reached on VHF: Channel 80 or 37, P: +44 1273 819919.

Contact the marina office when approaching and the staff will allocate a berth. If it has not been possible to make contact go to pontoons No. 10 and 11 and make contact with the Marina Reception which is located on the first floor of the West Jetty. Marina staff will then allocate an appropriate berth.

How to get in?

Offshore details are available in the southeast England’s Coastal Overview for North Foreland to the Isle of Wight . The extensive marina will be seen to the east of the city enclosed by the arms of two curved breakwaters.

The outer West Breakwater that is 630 metres long and has a white round structure at its head, red bands, exhibiting a light Q.R. 1 sec 9.6m 7M. Within it is the 1220 metres long East Breakwater that has a beacon at its extremity, white pillar, green bands, QG 1 sec 8.3m 7M. The complex pierhead lights can be seen for several miles to seaward.

Vessels approaching from the west should give the head of the western breakwater a wide berth to avoid being surprised by a vessel exiting from behind the West Breakwater.

From the initial fix, the entrance faces southeast and lies between the heads of two breakwaters. Keep to the West Breakwater side of the channel if operating on the margins with a moderately deep craft until the East Breakwater Head is coming abeam.




The entrance channel then bends eastward and is buoyed by red and green markers to the inner entrance. The inner entrance is flanked by the West Quay, on the north side, 2F Vert Red, and South Quay, 2F Vert Green opposite.




Beth as directed by the marina office. Alternatively come alongside the marina's reception pontoons, immediately within the inner entrance; No. 10 lies to port and or No. 11 is directly ahead. Make arrangements with the marina office based at the root of these pontoons on West Jetty.




In addition to the outer marina, there is an inner basin with additional berths that can be entered through locks on the east side of the marina as best advised by the staff. The minimum depth in the inner basin is 2.4 metres and small craft up to a draught of 3.0 metres can be accepted.


It is possible in settled conditions or offshore winds to anchor off the beach ⅓ of a mile southwestward of the head of West Pier or the same distance southwestward of the Palace Pierhead.

Why visit here?

Brighton gets its name from Bristelmestune which was first recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book. The name means ‘farmstead or village (tún) of a man called Beorhthelm’ and the name Brighthelmstone was in use as late as 1823. The town's name Brighton, was first recorded in 1660 and it became the official name in 1810.



Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods. The Saxons landed in Sussex in the 5th-Century AD and they founded the kingdom of Sussex including the village of Brighton. Beorhthelm’ would have been a Saxon who lived in a village above the cliffs. Soon fishermen came to live under this cliff on the foreshore and it is thought they leveraged a small inlet at Pool Valley from which boats could be hauled up to safety.


Strangely, on this inhospitable sweep of coastline open to the prevailing south-westerly gales, fishing became the mainstay of the early settlement. By Doomsday in 1086 Brighton was a large fishing village, which is evident from the rent of 4000 herrings. By 1285 it had a separate constable for overseeing the rent and by 1333 it was assessed to be half the assessment of Shoreham. By then Brighton had developed into a small town with four streets, North Street, West Street, East Street and South Street along with fishermen's huts along the shore. The Church of St Bartholomew in Brighton was first recorded in 1185. However, the community was not without its challenges.


The coast at Brighton was constantly being eroded by the sea. In 1340 a writer noted that the sea had recently 'swallowed' 40 acres of farmland. It was also vulnerable to attacks from the French who raised the fledgeling town to the ground in 1514 and attacked again, less successfully, in 1545. Then it was noted the French... 'came forth into the seas and arrived on the coast of Sussex before Brighthamstead and set certain of his soldiers on land to burn and spoil the country, but the beacons were lit and the inhabitants thereabout came down so thick, that the Frenchmen were driven to fly with loss of diverse of their numbers so that they did little hurt there'.

The Tudor landsmen and the fishing community did not, however, get along. In 1580 commissioners sent to decide disputes between the fishermen and landsmen found that from time immemorial Brighton had been governed by two headboroughs sitting in the borough court, and assisted by a council called the Twelve. This constitution disappeared before 1772, when commissioners were appointed. Nevertheless, the little town continued to prosper as a fishing town because of the fishery and fishing-related trades such as boatbuilding and sail, rope and net-making.




The fishing fleet at this time boasted eighty fishing boats, made up of a fleet of small inshore boats and large distant fishing vessels. These were manned by four hundred mariners who used ten thousand nets. The larger boats were up to forty tons and would go on 'fares' for weeks or months ranging down the English Channel but also up the east coast as far as Yarmouth and Scarborough. The smaller inshore boats fished locally and were drawn up on the beach after each trip.




But in the latter half of the 17th-Century, the fishing industry went into a long decline. This was caused in part by the encroachment of the sea, a suffering economy, declining population and a series of wars with France and Holland. Of these, the wars had the most detrimental effect as the enemies navies prevented fishing vessels from plying their trade. There was also the fear of attack as in 1694 a writer noted... 'Our poor town of Brighton has been this day suddenly surprised by 4 French ships and pestered by them since 11 am. As yet they have not done us much harm, having positioned themselves so near to us as to shoot over the town'. Two more French vessels arrived but the townsfolk took up arms and assembled to drive the French off.




The 18th-century saw Brighton rediscover itself and blossom into an elegant vacation spot where England's elite relaxed in fashionable spas and hotels under the restorative influence of the sea air. Its popularity increased after the visit of George IV, Prince of Wales, to the Duke of Cumberland in 1783. This new direction was ensured by his building of the Pavilion in 1784-1787, and his adoption of it as his principal residence. His association with Mrs Fitzherbert at Brighton was the starting-point of its fashionable reputation.




By then, in the 1770s, travel from London to the coast had become possible within a day. By 1841, following the arrival of the railways, it was a morning trip from London to Brighton. Ease of access from London, Portsmouth, and the French coast, of which Brighton had become a boarding point for boats travelling across the channel, all helped to ensure the success of the resort. The town also developed in popularity as a health resort for sea bathing as a purported cure for illnesses. Many of the cities major attractions were built in the Victorian era and they remain to be enjoyed to this day: Charming Regency terraces, the delightful Palace Pier, the Metropole Hotel, now a "Hilton", the Grand Hotel, and the Royal Pavilion which was the exotic summer home of George IV, one of the country's most flamboyant and eccentric kings.



The town continued to grow into the 20th century, expanding to incorporate more areas into the town's boundaries before joining the town of Hove to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove in 1997, which was granted city status in 2000.



Today Brighton is the largest and best-known seaside resort on the English Channel. Although Brighton's famous five mile long pebbly beaches are now lined with souvenir shops and amusement arcades, it remains a culturally vibrant city renowned for its diverse communities, quirky shopping areas and a large cultural, music and arts scene. Its large LGBT population has lead to its recognition as the 'unofficial gay capital of the UK. Brighton has also been called the UK's 'hippest city' and 'the happiest place to live in the UK'.




From a sailing point of view, it is an ideal location to visit for a wide range of reasons. Protection is complete, entry and exit from the seaward is direct, it is totally uncomplicated in almost all weather conditions, and securing a berth in the marina is rarely ever a problem. Provisioning in every boating context, food, fuel, repairs, spares are all excellent and easily attended to. Leisure facilities are all immediately above the pontoons and one of England's most wonderfully vibrant cosmopolitan cities lies alongside. Finally, the city has excellent transport connections should there be a need to make arrangements for a change of crew, whilst leaving the vessel in complete security. Brighton Marina, has it all.

What facilities are available?

The marina and city offer all facilities. Water and electricity, up to £5 included in the berthing fee, on the pontoons, toilets and shower blocks and launderette. The marina amenity blocks are situated on both the East and West Jetties. WiFi is available via hotspots located throughout the marina for a charge.

Self-Serve diesel and petrol are available 24x7. Enter a payment card at the payment point, select the amount of fuel and grade required and wait for authorisation of the transaction, remove the nozzle from the pump and begin dispensing fuel. Self-service holding tank pump-out facilities are available on the West Jetty via arrangement with the Marina Reception for advice and tokens. Calor gas and camping gas exchanges are also available at the marina office. Brighton Marina Yacht Club, located afloat in the heart of Brighton Marina and surrounded by members’ boats, welcomes visitors.

There is a well-stocked chandler onsite and a wide range of specialist services from rigging to marine electronics, GRP repairs, cosmetic work and engineering. Should a vessel need to come out there is a 60-tonne boat hoist, 15-tonne Roodberg boat mover and a static crane used for mast work and engine lifts, plus a new mast rack. The marina has established itself as a quality boatyard and a one-stop shop for all boating needs.

An Asda superstore, and restaurant, with an ATM is located locally for provisioning. Almost anything else can be found in the city.

The nearest mainline station is Brighton with regular connections to Chichester and Portsmouth, and London is under an hour away. Brighton and Hove bus service operates a number 7 bus approximately every 15 minutes 24 hours a day, from Brighton Town Centre (North Street or Queens Road), to the Marina Village.

Any security concerns?

Access to the marina’s berthing is also protected with key fob activated security gates at the entrances to the east and west jetties. Premier Marinas operate 24-hour security patrols and 32 CCTV cameras protect the marina and its shoreside facilities. The marina is patrolled daily between 7am and 7pm and a Berthing Master patrols the marina twice at night.

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