Marina/Anchorage: Eastbourne Marina / Sovereign Harbour

Date(s) of visit: 04/08/2023 – 09/08/2023 Boat length: 28ft Boat type: Sailing yacht Boat name: Sudana Crew: Two persons and one cat

A white sailboat with blue trimmings called "Sudana" is moored on a finger pontoon at Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne.

Sovereign Harbour is a very friendly and clean marina and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. | Image by PS Copywriting

Table of Contents:

Price

You will need to contact Sovereign Harbour to get a quote for your berthing. However, I contacted the harbour in November 2024 and received the following information about their current mooring fees. Sovereign Harbour’s off-peak season is relatively generous, running from September to May. For the 2024-25 winter season, they charge:

£4.50 per metre per night for vessels sized 8 -12.5m
£4.70 per metre per night for vessels sized 12.6 – 16m
£5.00 per metre per night for vessels sized 16.1 – 20m

Although they didn’t have their summer rates available when I called, we can expect this to be a little higher. All berthing includes £10 of electricity, after which you will need to buy more from the office if required. The marina also offers a monthly berthing option and advised me that if you intend to stay any more than two weeks, it’s worth getting the monthly price.

Access

Sovereign Harbour offers detailed directions on its website for navigating to Sovereign Harbour by sea. The clear instructions are simple to follow but highlight the need to stay alert and check local stations for the most up-to-date maritime notifications. Sovereign Harbour recommends marinas take particular care when approaching from the East or South, as tide rips over the Royal Sovereign Shoal, the Horse of Willingdon, and Coxheath Shoal can easily catch out unwary visitors. If approaching from the West, it’s vital to stay at least a mile off-shore around Beachy Head. The first landmark indicating the marina is the Martello Tower at Langney Point. Then, you’re looking for the Safe Water Mark (Lat 50º 47′.37N Long 000º 20′.81E), which marks the start of the entrance channel. You will need to contact Sovereign Harbour on VHF Channel 17 at this point. From here, the entrance channel is clearly marked with two green starboard buoys and a special yellow marker. Don’t try to cut corners here, as the green buoys mark a WWI wreck visible at low water on spring tides. You’ll also notice a single-point leading light. Be careful to keep the white sector in sight; if you can see red, you need to angle to starboard; if you can see green, turn to port. Once you’ve passed the breakwater, you’ll need to turn toward the locks once you can see the traffic signals. The locks are accessible in all states of tide, are manned 24/7, and operate on the hour and half-out for lock-ins/outs. You can contact the locks on VHF Channel 17. Be sure to follow the lock-keepers’ instructions and keep an eye on the light sequences.

Sailing yacht Sudana makes her way from Newhaven to Eastbourne Marina. Her white sails are out and the sky and sea are both a bright blue colour.

Sailing to Eastbourne is relatively straightforward, with a well-marked entrance channel. Just be sure to stay at least 1nm off Beachy Head and watch out for tide rips! | Image by PS Copywriting

Contact info

VHF: Channel 17 Telephone: 01323 470 099 Email: [email protected] Address: Premier Marinas Sovereign Harbour North Lock Side Pacific Drive Eastbourne East Sussex BN23 5BJ If you’re looking for a quote for berthing, you can fill in the online form or contact Eastbourne Marina by phone (01489 884 060) or email ([email protected]).

Comfort

Tucked between two locks, Eastbourne Marina is well-sheltered and comfortable, with plenty of space for vessels of all sizes. It is a Premier Marina, so you may find the finger pontoons are a little small, but this is typical of Premier and far from a dealbreaker. There’s a 5-knot limit within the harbour, so fishing vessels and powerboaters are unlikely to disrupt your sleep, and the staff and locals are friendly and helpful.

Facilities

Eastbourne does a great job of offering all the facilities a visiting boater could want. From £10 free electricity included with every berth to individual showers, plus plenty of bins and recycling facilities, you’re sure to be happy and comfortable when visiting Sovereign Harbour. Showers The showers at Sovereign Harbour are clean and tidy, as you’d expect from a Premier Marina. The cubicles may be a little small, but they’re well-equipped, with an individual toilet, sink, mirror, and shower in every room. Laundry Laundry is available in Sovereign Harbour, with tokens available from the office and large machines. Electricity and water All berth holders will benefit from £10 free electricity and free water on the pontoons during their stay. If you need more than £10 of electricity, you can purchase top-up cards from the office. Fuel Sovereign Harbour offers a self-service fuel pontoon selling diesel and unleaded petrol. The fuel pontoon can be accessed 24/7 and is close to the marina reception for convenience. There are CCTV cameras overseeing the pumps, and an intercom is available if you have any questions or problems. Gas Bottled gas is available at the marina reception. Boatyard and chandlery The Eastbourne boatyard offers full-service opportunities and operates seven days a week. There’s also a well-stocked chandlery on-site, making Eastbourne a great spot for all your boat maintenance needs. Bins & Recycling Eastbourne Marina has a comprehensive range of bins and recycling, so you shouldn’t have any problems disposing of your waste, even after a long passage. Visitors with holding tanks can also utilise the pump-out facilities on site. What’s more, Sovereign Harbour even provides recycling facilities for metals and hazardous waste, including paint, oil filters, lead acid batteries, and spent oil. With a huge focus on sustainable boating, Eastbourne has plenty of environmentally-friendly policies and procedures that visiting and residential boaters alike will love. Wi-Fi Free Wi-Fi is available throughout Sovereign Harbour for berth holders and visitors. You’ll be allocated a username and password on arrival and can connect up to three devices at a time.

Shops

Refilling the pantry has never been easier than at Sovereign Marina, thanks to the huge Asda Superstore just over the bridge. There’s also a B&M Home Store with a Garden Centre right next to the marina, as well as several other shops, pubs, and restaurants.

The North Harbour Bridge at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne connects the marina with the waterfront complex. In this image, the bridge is raised to allow boats to pass through.

Simply cross the North Harbour Bridge, and you’ll find yourself in the Eastbourne Waterfront complex. A huge Asda Superstore can be found just behind this, where you’ll also find bus links to the city centre and beyond. | Image by PS Copywriting

Things to do

Cross the North Harbour Bridge, and you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you fed and entertained in the Eastbourne Waterfront complex. There’s also a hairdresser and even glow-in-the-dark mini-golf (although, I must be honest and mention that I never saw the crazy golf actually open during our stay)! The Waterfront also runs events throughout the year, including everything from a boat Christmas lights competition to car shows to summer markets.

A glass of white wine is in focus, with a view of Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne behind it, slightly blurred out.

There are plenty of bars in the Waterfront, perfect for enjoying a glass of wine overlooking the marina. | Image by PS Copywriting

The Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club is a thriving club with a decent bar and restaurant. It runs a variety of social events throughout the year, with activities including BBQs, comedy nights, and live music in addition to competitive sailing, racing, and a thorough cruising calendar. The club’s “cruise in company” events are especially worth checking out, with events ranging from weekend sails to longer summer holiday trips to France or down to the West Country! If you want to stretch your legs, history buffs will want to visit Pevensey Castle; the landing place of William the Conqueror’s army in 1066. The Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway also offers a fun family day out with a five-acre lake and beautiful gardens with a cute railway style café. You can find more days out in Eastbourne at VisitEastbourne. It’s also easy to head into Eastbourne centre from Sovereign Marina, with decent bus links or a (roughly) 35-minute walk to the Pier (which almost burned down in 2014!). Berth holders can also enjoy a 50% discount on an annual subscription to App-Bikes, which are readily available in multiple locations around Eastbourne and along the South Coast.

A view from the top deck of the bus from Eastbourne Marina to Eastbourne Pier. Through the window, you can see a yellow pebble beach with large green/blue waves crashing on the shore. A few people walk alongside on the pavement, while one person walks along the beach. Eastbourne Pier can also be seen in the background.

There are good transport links from Eastbourne Marina into the city, which take a beautiful route along the beach. | Image by PS Copywriting

Review:

We had a lovely time in Eastbourne Marina. We were a little surprised to find the rates so similar to Brighton Marina, as Brighton is a much bigger city, but the quality of the marina meant the price was justified. Similar to Brighton, we enjoyed the proximity of the shops and bars, as well as the ease of getting into the city for bigger adventures. We were also impressed by how friendly Eastbourne was. We made some really good friends during our stay and got chatting to new people every time we went out. Next time, we’ll definitely make an effort to check out the yacht club and possibly join one of their “cruise with company” events. I’d also love to have a go at the glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, although we did manage to play some of the craziest crazy golf we’ve ever experienced at Boom Battle Bar Eastbourne. Don’t forget to give Beachy Head a wide berth!

Would you stay again?

Yes, I would happily stay at Sovereign Harbour again and will look out for their club events when we’re next in that part of the country.

Opie’s Opinion

Finally, regular readers will know that we save the most important part for last… the opinions of Opie the Boat Cat! “I enjoyed Sovereign Harbour at lot. I liked that it was behind a lock, so it was well protected and speed limits meant the boat didn’t bounce around too much. The pontoon was comfortable and it wasn’t too far for me to go ashore and explore a little on my own (although there wasn’t much for me there, no parks or trees to climb!). There were some dogs aboard other liveaboard boats, but they weren’t too close to us and didn’t seem to bark too much, so I didn’t mind.”

A dog stands on the foredeck of a powerboat moored at Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne.

Opie wasn’t the only pet at Eastbourne Marina! This little puppy was also enjoying his stay on one of the resident powerboats. | Image by PS Copywriting

Next Steps

If you fancy starting your boating adventures at Sovereign Marina, we have plenty of boats for sale in Eastbourne & East Sussex at boats.com, so you’re sure to find your dream vessel! Already on the water and looking for your next port? Check out our other marina reviews, including:

Or check out some of our other articles for more advice on finding the perfect marina mooring or tips on how to berth your boat like a pro.

A black and white cat wearing a red harness sits under the sprayhood of a sailing yacht.

Don’t worry, I’d never leave you without a picture of Opie chilling in the cockpit on arrival at Eastbourne! | Image by PS Copywriting

Editors note: This post was originally published in boats.com