Visitor Mooring Charges 2009/10 (including Harbour Dues and VAT) per night*

* Less £2.00 per category between 1st November and 31st March

Local boats, i.e. those on moorings in the River Colne and its creeks, but not owned by BHC, pay £1.00 less per night than other visitors. Further discounts are available for boats staying for a week or more at certain times of the year and for clubs visiting with 6 or more boats

Fees for visiting boats staying for one week:

NEW – Visiting boats are welcome to stay in the Waterside Marina with the benefit of walk-off access – see the Waterside Marina page for more information. Marina berths must be booked through the office in advance. Price includes water and electricity.

Club Visitor Mooring Charges 2008/9 (including Harbour Dues and VAT) per night*

* Less £2.00 per category between 1st November and 31st March

Clubs are requested to phone or email ahead of their planned visit to check that space will be available for the number of boats likely to require a berth. Bookings can only be taken for groups of 6 boats or moreA list of names of boats in the visiting group and their lengths should be provided to the Harbour Office either by phone or email prior to your arrival.

Information for visitors arriving in Brightlingsea by water

All visitors, from novice to experienced sailors are very welcome in Brightlingsea Harbour. We pride ourselves on our welcome in that wherever possible, visiting boats are met on the water as they enter the Harbour and are shown to a berth by members of the Harbour Staff.

-Contacting us

Harbour staff can be contacted on VHF Channel 68 and visitors should call in on this channel as they approach the Harbour to request a berth. The Harbour is manned from 0800 - 2000 during high season (Whitsun to 31st August), 0800 - 1700 low season and 0800 - 1600 from 1st Nov to 31st March and you should be able to contact a member of staff on VHF 68 during these times. Alternatively, for those without access to a radio, you may phone the Harbour Office on +44(0)1206 302200 instead.

-Finding a Berth

It is not possible to book an individual berth, but the chance of us not having a space for you is very small. Boats up to 50 feet (15m) in length and 8 feet (2.5m) draft can be accommodated. Outside working hours, visitors should find an empty berth in the visitor area at the western end of the pontoon nearest to Cindery Island if possible. If there are no spaces here, another empty berth may be used instead. Resident boats are issued with a ‘Back Tonight’ notice which they are requested to leave on their pontoon berth if they expect to be back the same evening. Please avoid these berths if a visitor berth is not available. A berth with no notice on it is usually available for use.

-Water Taxi

Berths at Brightlingsea Harbour have no direct access to the land and therefore transport to the land is either via water taxi or your own dinghy/tender. From the beginning of April to the end of October, Ray Eggleton’s Water Taxi service runs from morning until late into the evening during school holidays and from 1700 Friday evening to Sunday evening. For exact service times please see the Water Taxi page. Ray can be contacted on VHF channel 37/M1 or by phone 07986 122672. Outside these times Brightlingsea Harbour operates a limited water taxi service within normal working hours. Again, they can be contacted on VHF 68 or at the office on +44(0)1206 302200.

- Paying for your berth

Overnight berthing fees, which include Harbour Dues, can be paid either to the Harbour Staff who collect money direct from visiting boats twice a day or at the Harbour Office. For a list of charges please see the Visitor Charges page. Discounts are available for those who wish to stay for longer periods outside of high season and for Visiting Clubs with a group of 6 or more boats. Payment can be made by credit/debit card (at the Harbour Office), cash or cheque. There are several cash machines available in the Town Centre which is only a short walk away.