Brightlingsea Harbour Facilities and Services
Facilities at Brightlingsea Harbour have steadily been upgraded over the past few years.
The following services are provided either by Brightlingsea Harbour or by other local businesses. International dialling code is 0044.
Dinghy storage is available in the Boat Park in either hard standing spaces or racks. Please enquire at the Harbour Office as to availability.
Brightlingsea Sailing Club is a dinghy sailing club which has an active racing fleet and hosts open events. www.sailbrightlingsea.com
The Colne Yacht Club welcomes boat visitors and it situated within the Harbour area.
Tel: 01206 302954.
A Foot/Cycle Ferry runs from Easter to the end of October between Brightlingsea, Point Clear and East Mersea. During quiet periods Harbour Trips may also be available. Please see the Ferry page for more timetable and prices.
Fresh Water is available to visiting boats from the end of the Colne Yacht Club Jetty. There is also a tap at the top of the Town Hard.
Boats may launch over the Town Hard on payment of a fee. Launching fees may be paid daily or annually, with a special rate available for residents of Brightlingsea. Fees should be paid to the Hard Master or other Harbour Staff if the Hard Hut is unattended. Launching fees relate to boat length and engine power and a table of fees can be accessed here.
Laundry facilities are available in the Wreck House. At a cost of £3 for a wash and £2 for a dry, keys to the facility can be obtained from the Harbour Office during normal opening hours.
Vessels may also lie on the Hard by arrangement with the Harbour Office. Fees for vessels up to 16’ 6” are £5 per day or part thereof. For vessels over 16’ 6” the fee is £7 per day or part thereof.
Both resident and visitor berths are available at Waterside Marina, which is managed by Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners. For prices and further information please visit the Marina page.
The scrubbing posts located on the Town Hard are available for use by both visitors and residents by prior arrangement with the Harbour Office. Bookings are taken on a first come first served basis at the Harbour Office. Charges per day or part thereof are £15 (inc VAT) for vessels below 12 metres (40 feet) LOA and Smacks and £20 (inc VAT) for vessels above 12 metres (40 Feet) LOA. These figures will be subject to a 20% surcharge for non-mooring holders.
Brightlingsea Harbour has a sewage holding tank pump out system available for boat users. It is a pontoon mounted system and can be used by arrangement with the Harbour staff. Please speak to a member of Harbour staff or contact the Harbour Office for more details.
Showers are available for visitor use at the Colne Yacht Club. A key to the facilities can be obtained from the Harbour Office when the club is closed.
For tide times please check the Tide Tables for Brightlingsea available here.
The Town Hard, whilst owned by Brightlingsea Town Council, is managed by Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners. Boats may lay on the Hard for a small fee. The schedule of fees for laying on the Hard can be accessed here.
As there is no direct access from the moorings to the land, Harbour users may choose either to use their own dinghy/tender or to use the Water Taxi service. The Water Taxi service is provided by Ray Eggleton from the beginning of April until the end of October at weekends and on a daily basis during school summer holidays.
The timetable shows the hours it runs. Ray can be contacted on VHF channel 37/M1 or on mobile 07986 122672. When the Water Taxi is not running, Harbour staff provide a service during working hours and can be contacted on VHF channel 68 or via the Harbour Office on 01206 302200. Out of hours access to the shore from the pontoons is by private tender only.
A daily weather forecast, recorded each morning is provided by Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners on 0844 499 2681. This gives the current weather, 24 hour forecast, visibility, wind speed and direction. It also gives any weather warnings and tide times for the day.
The weather forecast for the current day, including tide times, is also displayed on a board on the front wall of the Harbour Office. There is also a weather station located within the Harbour which sends current data to this website and can be accessed from the Home page.
