... by the construction of a new heads and shower.block on top of the clubhouse. Code for the door by phoning the club or asking when you arrive. They prefer you to book the berth online a day or two before. One or possibly two berths on the pontoon and a dedicated visitors' buoy, all free and all drying. The pontoon dries quite low and you may need a step or two to climb on and off.

No shops within easy reach.

I reviewed these notes in March 2022. Prices have been updated though Chichester Marina has not changed. Grateful to Tyro for his information below.

I reviewed these notes in March 2022. Prices have been updated though Chichester Marina has not changed. Grateful to Tyro for his information below.

I visited here in August 2021 and was impressed by the friendliness and efficiency of the staff. Stuart, the lockkeeper was very helpful, passing shore lines (but you need your own fenders, port side), allocating a berth and providing directions to it.

For those unfamiliar with pile moorings, as we were, it needs a bit of preparation. You need four lines, one at each corner, with a large bowline in each. Take the two stern lines forward and drop them over the outer piles as you pass - slowly! Then take in on these, but only enough to reach the inner piles with the bowlines in the bow lines 😆. You then have to climb over the pulpit to go ashore. If this is beyond your physical ability you need the boat-handling ability to go in backwards. I'd rather climb....

Or you could ask if there's a pontoon berth available.

The electric tree was locked but Stuart came over to unlock it when we asked. Sarah in the office was brilliant and the heads and showers were fantastic - the best I've encountered anywhere. Bit of a trek from the berth though.

In June '21 I spent a pleasant few days in Chichester Harbour including a night each at Bosham and Dell Quay.

At Bosham you moor to piles on the quay with long lines, and a fender board which the v helpful (lady) harbourmaster provided. £20 or so overnight if I remember correctly. Dries to softish mud, contrary to Mr Cunliffe's advice. No harbour facilities but a friendly sailing club with excellent heads and showers, open from 0830. Good beer in the bar. Local yoofs making a noise on the quay and nearby village green till quite late.
No food supplies in the village but three sources of ice cream (the one next to the craft shop is best) and pleasant walks including a causeway across the creek at LW.

At Dell Quay the (free) visitors' buoy was occupied but a committee member invited me to tie up on the sailing club pontoon. Also free, but heads and showers in the clubhouse only available when it's open. Dries to gravel and firm mud so I was able to change my shaft anode but it'd be grossly irresponsible to scrub off there. Pleasant walk right up the E edge of the channel to Fishbourne. Pub/restaurant within a stone's throw but beyond my means.

These notes were reviewed in early March. Birdham has added new pontoons and both they and Chichester have increased their prices. New Chart has been added and we have uploaded the new pontoon plan for Birdham

In February 2019 Premier Marinas announced that to reduce lock congestion as from 14th March 2019 they will only sell fuel to Premier customers and so decrease casual lock traffic, leaving more capacity for berth holders.

Birdham no longer does fuel. Chichester has held it's visitor rates for another year

These notes were reviewed by Don in March 2016. Thanks "Twohoots" for the useful info on Birdham Pool. There has been little in the way of change here and the prices have been updated for the 2016 season.

Birdham Pool lock is operated on demand and except at the very busiest of times there is no need to queue. However, when approaching up the channel you cannot see whether the lock is occupied until you round the last pile. In our experience the lock keeper will notice arriving boats very quickly and open the gates as soon as he can. The longest we have had to wait for the lock (summer 2014) is 10 minutes and there are two options. The first is to wait on the north side of the channel, but the soft mud banks are steep and it is quite easy to touch. The alternative is the south side where there is a timber jetty projecting into the channel from the ancient tide mill - this is shown on the Birdham Pool chartlet at http://www.castlemarinas.co.uk/sites/default/files/birdham-pool-chartlet.pdf and you can see it on Google maps satellite view. If the wind has any south in it a line round one of the posts on the jetty is all you need, but in other wind directions you will be blown against the jetty legs so a fender plank is helpful unless you are half an hour either side of full tide in which case you can fender off the timber rail at the top of the jetty.

The diesel and petrol pumps are at the lock and accessible from inside the lock itself or from the very small channel on the north side. If you need fuel and there is no boat waiting to take your place in the lock it's a good plan to fill up on arrival because boats are discouraged from occupying the lock merely for refuelling.

Birdham Pool itself is an amazing time-warp. There are traditional boatbuilders in the yard and there are always classic wooden vessels to be seen. But the showers and toilets are very up-to-date!