Date(s) of visit: 19/07/2023 – 25/07/2023
Boat length: 28ft
Boat type: Sailing yacht
Boat name: Sudana
Crew: Two persons and one cat
Visitors should also check out the Brighton Marina Yacht Club (BMYC), which is conveniently located just outside the marina gates and offers a warm atmosphere with some impressive views of the marina. The yacht club runs regular races and rallies throughout the year for sailors and motor cruisers alike. Even non-boaties can get in on the fun, as they also offer opportunities to crew and build up your experience. Or, just relax and enjoy being by the water with a drink and some delicious locally sourced food.
Brighton Marina. Credit: Patrick Yau
Price
We paid £36 per night as a day visitor. Monthly and annual berthing options are also available.Access
The rumours are true – you don’t “sail” into Brighton; you “fall” into her! The access to Brighton Marina is renowned for being treacherous, with large swells and rolley waves, meaning any vessel ends up surfing its way into the safety of the harbour. The breakwater is smaller than you’d expect for such a major city, and the red and green markers can look deceptive when approaching from the south-west, especially at night. An easier entrance can be made from the east, allowing an approaching ship to travel down the middle of the fairway and take advantage of any shelter Brighton offers. From any direction, an approach at high tide is always advisable with this marina, as strong winds and tidal flows can cause shoaling in the harbour entrance. This makes it imperative to stay within the marker buoys, as the sides of the entrance can be very sloped and, despite regular dredging, are frequently not as deep as they appear in person or on your chart plotter!Contact info
The marina office is open 24/7, maintaining a listening watch on VHF channels 37 and 80 (we radioed on 80). The Waterfront Brighton Marina BN25WA 01273 693 636 info@brightonmarina.co.uk https://www.brightonmarina.co.uk/contact-us-information/
The main walkways around Brighton Marina feel safe and solid, even in the rain! (image credit @writingandsailing)
Comfort
Once around the breakwater, the marina is calm and comfortable, protected from winds in all directions. Like numerous Premier Marinas, Brighton Marina suffers from small-pontoon-symptom. Despite giving the marina our boat size and warning them that we’re a beamy vessel, we ended up sharing a small and wobbly finger pontoon with a rather large motorboat, meaning an almost 90-degree turn was required to get us into our berth and only one fender width between our vessels. We also noted that, despite what the office had promised, the pontoon was certainly not 10 metres. Based on our 8 metre yacht, we’d estimate it to be more like 6 metres of thin, wobbly stress, without even enough width for us to put down my little step. Once off the finger pontoon, however, the rest of the marina is incredibly solid and unmoving – you could be on land! – and it was only a very short walk through a group of gates to get either out of the marina or in towards the facilities and office from where we were berthed. Even if you’ve moored further away, the facilities are well-labelled and easy to find. Are you nervous about mooring in a new marina? We’ve got you covered with our top 10 tips for marina berthing.Facilities
The facilities at this marina are lovely. The showers are small but clean, tidy, and private, with a shower, toilet, sink, and hand dryer apiece, plus plenty of hangers for towels and bags. There’s also a laundrette and an abundance of bins and recycling, so pretty much all your needs are met!Shops
There are plenty of shops, bars, restaurants, and activities within the marina complex. For essentials, there is a large Asda right behind the pontoons. Restaurant-wise, there are plenty of chain restaurants to choose from, all within a 5-minute walk, including Pizza Express, Café Rouge, The Watershed, and more. Walk for an extra minute or two, and you’ll also find Weatherspoons, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays, Five Guys, Harvester, and Nandos, to name just a few! There’s also a small chandlery, sail repairs and maintenance, and other boating essentials shops near the lock.Things to do
If you’re looking for activities on your doorstep, Brighton Marina has you sorted! Within the marina complex, you’ll find a cinema, a David Lloyd gym, a bowling alley, Globalls (trust me and check it out), a casino, water activities, and even a chiropractor. There are also some very easy bus routes into town, running at least every 10 minutes, which makes a nice change from usually unreliable public transport. If you fancy a walk, you can get into the hustle and bustle of the city within 30-45 minutes, even at a stroll.
Brighton Pier is only a short walk or bus ride from the marina (image credit @writingandsailing)
