guide
t
o
il
p
o
t
o
h
p
Easy
Channels with charm
Bosham
Thorney
Channel
Cameron Snell guides us along Thorney and Bosham
channels, the approach to Sparkes Marina, and
Emsworth Channel to Northney and Emsworth
I
n PBO last month we entered
Chichester Harbour and headed up
to Chichester Marina or Birdham
Pool for the night. Now we can
explore the creeks and channels
that meander inland through
beautiful unspoilt countryside, spending
nights either at visitors’ moorings, a quiet
anchorage, or at one of the harbour’s
several marinas. If you love watching
wildlife, swimming from sandy beaches
and supping at an olde worlde waterside
inn, you could easily spend a week or
more’s holiday here.
Upstream from Chichester Marina you’ll
need shallow draught and to pay close
attention to tide tables if you want to get
as far as the delightful hamlet of Dell
Emsworth
Channel
Chartlets in this article are
for reference only – not to
be used for navigation
Quay. Here you’ll find the Crown and
Anchor pub and Dell Quay Marine which
offers yard services and, if you’re tempted
to take up permanent residence, half-tide
moorings.
But instead we’re turning to port down
the Chichester Channel, back past
Itchenor and to starboard into the
Bosham Channel.
Upstream to beautiful Bosham
Bosham, locally pronounced
as ‘Bozzum’, could easily be
described as the jewel in
Chichester Harbour’s crown.
The buildings around the
quay area have not changed
outwardly over the last 100
years: ashore you will find two
delightful cafes as well as the
Anchor Bleu, a 300-year-old
waterside pub, and the
Berkeley Arms further inshore
and away from the crowds.
Bosham Sailing Club
occupies a converted mill on
the quay.
Bosham is mentioned on the
Bayeux Tapestry because of
its connections with King
88
Harold, and this is well
documented in the church.
There has been a church on
the same site on Quay
Meadow since 800AD, and
parts of the existing building
date back to Saxon times.
According to myth, King
Canute’s daughter is buried
here after having drowned in
the millstream. Legend also
has it that it was here that he
famously tried to turn the tide
in order to demonstrate to his
people that no one was
invincible, even the king.
There is a huge tidal range
at Bosham, although sea
levels have fallen quite
considerably since the 11th
century. At low tide the town
fronts a vast open area of tidal
flats. The sea advances in
spectacular fashion, and one
could imagine King Canute
sitting near the church,
perhaps looking out over the
advancing tide, issuing his
futile orders for the waves to
retreat.
Look out for the unlit Deep End south
cardinal. Leave it to starboard heading
north into the Bosham Channel.
1
Practical Boat Owner 561 June 2013 • www.pbo.co.uk
Corbis
Chichester
Chichester
Chichester
bourne
Returning downstream, our next
exploration is the Thorney Channel
Fishbourne
Bosham
Thorney Island:
some history
Bosham SC
gives access to the water at
all stages of the tide.
The Thorney Island Sailing
The southern part of the
Club was formed in 1950 by
island is occupied by a
airmen serving at the RAF
military base, and public
station on the island. In 1984,
access to this area is limited
the RAF station became an
to the coastal footpath and
army base, and in 2007
Dell the church of St Nicholas at
Thorney Island Sailing Club Quay West Thorney.
ceased to be part of the
Royal Air Force Sailing
Thorney Channel
Association and became an
Anchoring is permitted
Copperas Point
Army Sailing Association
between the Pilsey Island
Fl.Gwhich is now the
sailing club,
beacon and the next pair of
Chichester
CYB
recreational sailing part of the
beacons, and this anchorage
Marina
Fl(4)G Island Watersports
Thorney
r regarded as the most
eis
t
s
e
ich
Centre (TIWSC).
The
slipway
peaceful
in Chichester
h
C
Lock
Ferry
(summer only)
Fairway
Fl(3)G
ter
Itchenor SC
all c
db
erth
s
raft
mo
orin
gs
al
nEmsworth
Ca
es
Itchenor
ich
Birdham
Pool
Langstone
Nutbourne
Cobnor Point is the southern tip of the
Chidham Peninsula. Leave it well to port
to avoid the shingle beach that extends
seaward as far as the buoy. The deeper water
can be found between the rows of moored
boats. Follow the route through the moorings
and avoid straying toward the withies on either
side until you can see a solitary west cardinal
post on your starboard side.
2
Thornham
Marina
Prinsted
Point
Thorney
Island
Stanbury Point
Emsworth
Heading west along the Chichester
Channel will bring you to the Camber
Hayling
southIsland
cardinal at the crossroads of the Thorney
channel to the north and the Chichester Marker Point
Channel. Turn north-north-west here and leave
the cardinal to starboard. In the distance you
will see a green pile and a red pile adjacent to
each other. Nearer, on your starboard side,
there is a green beacon: this may be difficult
to spot as it is small and lies high up on the
datum
line.
Hayling
Yacht
Chidham
3
Thorney Channel
1
est Wittering
4
Thorney Is SC
CACT
Chann
2
el
Main
Channel
Roman
Transit
3
Most of the beacons, posts or withies
along the channel lie above the datum
line, so navigating between the line of moored
Tourner
Burybe a safer option. On
boats or buoys
would
your starboard Marsh
side is the deep-water
Fl.G NW
Nutbourne Channel. Chichester Harbour
Pilsey
Conservancy manages 15 moorings here.
2
Mengham
Rythe SC
Hayling Is SC
Pilsey
Fl(2)R
F
Ch
a
It
1
Q(6)+LFl
Camber
Copyhold Sandhead
Fl.R
Fl(4)R
Snowhill
Fl.G 5s
Fl(4)G
East Head Spit
Mid Winner Fl(3)G
N. Winner Fl(2)G
East
Fl(3)R
Stocker
Q(6)+LFl
Sandy
Point
nn
el
Pilsey
Island
Chalkdock
ste
r
Company
Thorney
Fl.G
he
1
Leave the west cardinal post well to
NM
starboard. Like all the beacons here it
sits in the mud, above the datum line. Continue
through the moorings until you are abeam of
the quay.
Longmere
Point
Cobn
Poi
Ch
ic
+LFl
mber
Sm
Mu
it
Chalkdock
Ch
a
nn
el
Bosham Hoe
2F.G 2FG
2FG
ns
1
Cobnor
Point
Thornham Marina is
described as one of
Chichester Harbour’s
best-kept secrets. A warm
welcome is on offer, and the
extensive facilities include a
state-of-the-art submersible
boat lift. Call Thornham
Marina on VHF Ch80.
ed
Deep End
Tra
Main
Channel
Roman
Transit
Thornham Marina
oy
2
CACT
Harbour. Pilsey Island is a
small, protected reserve: the
area is a magnet to water
birds, offering a wide range of
coastal habitats within this
undisturbed sanctuary.
Bu
Tr a
ns
it
Chidham
N
ch utb
an ou
ne rn
l e
Chidham
Creek
NW. Winner Fl.G
The W inner
Head
Snowhill
Creek
Q.G
W. Winner
Eastoke
Point
A south cardinal beacon sits on the end
of a submerged wall that extends from
the quay. Turn to starboard just before this
beacon to access the quay. Don’t stray north of
the beacon, as you may hit the wall! With
sufficient tide it is possible to explore a little
further than Bosham Quay.
4
West
Pole
A south cardinal post indicates the divide
of the Nutbourne and Thorney channels.
The channel narrows here, so be
careful not to
Chichester
Bar Beacon
stray too close to the port- or starboard-hand
Fl(2)R 10s
markers that sit high up on the datum line on
the edge of the channel.
3
Practical Boat Owner 561 June 2013 • www.pbo.co.uk
West Pole
Fl.R 5s
Q.R
Eastoke
West Wittering
4
Once into Prinsted Bay, you will need
to follow the white and yellow buoys to
gain access to the marina. Thornham Marina
sits at the end of the Thorney Channel in
Prinsted Bay: access is two to two-and-a-half
Sands
hours either side ofEast
highPole
water.
Middle
Pole
➜
0
NM
89
Local knowledge
Getting to Emsworth Quay, Yacht
Harbour and visitors’ pontoons
Emsworth
Emsworth SC
Langstone
The Emsworth Channel takes
us up to the charming town of
Emsworth and to Northney
Marina. The channel leads
north from the main Harbour
entrance and is well marked.
Just keep Sandy Point
east cardinal to port and
be careful not to stray outside
the red and green channel
markers. The Emsworth south
cardinal marks the junction –to
starboard leads to Emsworth
where you can moor to
visitors’ pontoons and go
ashore by tender. Emsworth
Yacht Harbour is pleasant
place to stay but shallow with
a fixed sill, careful timing is
needed.
Service
Jetty
Fl(4)R
Northney
Langstone
50°50'N SC
Langstone
Bridge
Duckard Fl.G
Pt
Low Water
Landing
Emsworth
Yacht
Harbour
4
Small
craft
mooring
Fl(3)R
Fishermans
Thornham
Marina
3
Fl.R
Prinsted
P
Fl(3)R
Sweare
Deep
Northney
Marina
Q(6)+LF l
Emsworth
Fl(2)R
NE Hayling
1
Thorney
Island
2
Stan
Emsworth
Hayling
ABOVE The sill at Emsworth
Yacht Harbour
Paul Gelder
The Yacht Harbour is
dredged throughout to 1.5m.
Hayling Yacht
Visitors are welcome
and full
Company
marina facilities include
diesel, launderette, cafe,
toilets and showers. Take
note that the tide gauge at
the entrance to Emsworth
Yacht Harbour measures in
feet rather than metres,
showing the available water
over the sill at the entrance.
The sill is 2.44m above chart
datum. Access is
approximately two- to
two-and-a-half hours either
side of high water.
To reach Northney Marina take the marked
channel to port that leads north-east from the
‘junction’ at the Emsworth south cardinal.
Langstone
50°50'N SC
Low Water
Landing
Duckard Fl.G
Langstone
Bridge
Pt
Northney
Marina
Mengham Rythe
Fl(3)R
Sweare
Deep
Sparkes
Yacht Harbour
Fl(3)G
Echo
Small
craft
mooring
Fl(3)R
Fishermans
1
In the distance, the red Northney beacon
will come into view. Take a straight line
from Sweare Deep to the Northney beacon.
Turn Hayling
sharply when you reach it and leave it very
close Island
to port.
2
F
Fl(3)G
Sandy
Hayling Is SC Pt
Fl(2)G
Fl.G
Fl(4)G
E
H
Eastoke
Pt
The Winner
Q.G
W. Winner
Tide gauge
Q.R
Eastoke
West
Northney
Pole
Marina
Northney Marina
Middle
has 228 berths.Pole
Emsworth
Visitors Chichester
are advised
Yacht Fl(2)R
Bar
call on VHF
Tide to
gauge
Harbour
Ch80 prior to
approaching the
W Pole
Sweare Deep
Fl.WR
beacon. Facilities at
Thornham
Northney Marina
Marina
include showers,
toilets, fuel,
Prinsted
launderette
and a
Pt
small shop.There
is
also a slipway with
an access pontoon,
Thorney
for trailerIslandideal
sailors.
Emsworth
You are now in the approach channel
Stanbury
which is dredged to 1m with 24-hour
Pt
access. There are four beacons at the
entrance to the marina. xxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx
3
Marker Pt
Chann
Thorney Is SC
Fl(2)G
Practical Boat
Owner 561 June 2013 • www.pbo.co.uk
Marker
Nutb
Thorney Channel
The red Sweare Deep beacon sits in
the centre of the channel. A heading
of 318° True from North East Hayling will
keep you in the deeper water. The Sweare
Deep channel has beacons on both sides
but they sit in the mud, above the datum line.
Leave the Sweare Deep red beacon to port.
1
Fl(3)R
Stocker
FS
Q(6)+LF l
Emsworth
Fl(2)R
NE Hayling
Chichester
Harbour
Fishery
Q(6)+LFl
Fl.G NW
Pilsey
1
Mengham
Rythe SC
Fl.R
2
N. Pilsey
Tourner Bury
Marsh
Service
Jetty
Fl(4)R
Northney
Pils
Isla
Mill Rythe
Emsworth SC
3
Longm
Fl.R
Verner
Emsworth
Langstone
Thorney
Fl(2)G
Marker
el
Emsworth Yacht
Harbour
BELOW The Visitors pontoon
caption xxxxxxx/??????
Marker Pt
Chann
Paul Gelder
Island
Emsworth Channel to Northney Marina
90
Fl(3)G
Echo
el
Chichester
Emsworth
Emsworth SC
Low Water
Landing
Duckard Fl.G
Q(6)+LF l
Emsworth
Stanbury
Pt
Marker Pt
CACT
Thorney Is SC
Main
Fl(2)G
Cobnor
Look out for the large red can beacon on
Leave this to starboard
and look for
the
Channel
Point
Marker
Chann
3
Thorney Channel
Island
Chidham
Thorney
Island
Emsworth
Hayling
el
nn
rC
ha
Fl.G
Sparkes Marina – an ideal location
Mill Rythe
Chichester
Harbour
PilseyFurther information
IslandThe Shell Channel Pilot by Tom
Fairway
Fl(3)G
Fl.WR
2F.G 2FG
2FG
Itchenor
Itchenor
Cunliffe,
by Imray.
Pilsey publishey
Q(6)+LFl
£35Fl(2)R
www.imray.com
Camber
For lots more information see
NEharbour
Sandheadmaster’s website
the
Fl.R
www.conservancy.co.uk,
and
Fl(4)R
the individual marinas’ websites:
N. Pilsey
Tourner Bury
Sparkes is a deep-water full-service MDL-run
Marsh
marina handily tucked just inside the
entrance to the Harbour.
Fishery
Fl.G NW
Pilsey
Q(6)+LFl
Fl(3)R
The approach channel is dredged to 2m
Mengham Rythe
Stocker
below chart datum. To keep clear of drying
n www.emsworth-marina.co.uk
Fl(3)G
sandbanks position yourself approximately
n www.mdlmarinas.co.uk/mdl-sparkes-marina
••• Sandy
Fl(4)G
Fl(2)G
Pt
Mengham
East
mid-way between Sandy Point east cardinal Rythe SC
n www.mdlmarinas.co.uk/mdl-northney-marina
Fl.G
Head
Snowhill
mark and the row of green piles and pontoon
n www.thornhammarina.com
Creek
on your port side. From here the entrance is
The Winner
Sparkes
well marked.
The video pilotage guide to Chichester
Q.G
Yacht Harbour
W. Winner
The marina is manned 24 hours a day,
Harbour and the entire range of Cameron
Tide gauge
seven days a week. Visiting yachts are
Snell’s guides are
available
to view in
West
Wittering
Q.R
requested to call Sparkes Marina on VHF
full, free, online at www.harboursonfilm.
Eastoke
Ch80 when they reach the calling point at the
com or by Googling ‘harboursonfilm’. To
West
entrance of the approach channel. They will
download the films or buy a DVD, go to
Pole
be greeted on arrival and allocated a berth.
the harboursonfilm website.
Facilities include showers and toilets, a
Middle
laundry room, chandlers and also the
Pole
copy service
popular ‘Piranha’ restaurant and bar.
Chichester
Fl(2)R
Bar
When departing, follow the red beacons:
Tide gauge
To buy Part 1 of Chichester Harbour and
The east cardinal beacon between them
do not be misled by the greens. When you
East Pole Sands
other easy photo pilot guides from our
does not relate to this channel or its transit,
reach the pontoon, look behind you and line
series visit www.pbo.co.uk
and click on
0
W Pole
so can be disregarded.
up the yellow crosses on a reciprocal transit.
Practical Boat Owner 561 June 2013 • www.pbo.co.uk
(su
4
Romanbehind it. Do not
your right. The red Fisherman beacon
smaller green marker
Transit
sits in centre of the drying channel: leave this
be drawn toward the red post: stay close to the
very close to port and continue to follow the line
green posts and follow them all the way to the
Fl(2)G
of mooring buoys and red posts. Do not be
Yacht Harbour entrance.
Longmere
Chalkdock
Fl.R
tempted toward
Pt
Verner the small starboard posts.
Thorney
el
A south cardinal beacon marks the divide
of the Emsworth and Sweare Deep
channels. Leave the Emsworth south cardinal
to port. The channel is marked with beacons on
both sides. Following the line of mooring buoys
will keep you in the deeper water.
Chidh
Cree
Prinsted
Pt
Fl(3)R
Sweare
Deep
Fl(2)R
NE Hayling
Hayling Yacht
Company
Thornham
Marina
Fl.R
Northney
Marina
2
Fl(3)R
Fishermans
ste
Pt
Nutbourne
Small
craft
mooring
he
Langstone
Bridge
Fl(4)R
Northney
Ch
ic
Langstone
50°50'N SC
Service
Jetty
Emsworth
Yacht
Harbour
Paul Gelder
Langstone
Fl(3)G
Echo
‘Find PBO articles’.
NM
91
Whe
beaco
green
ponto
up th
transi
betwe
chann
disreg
1