Setting & Character
The locked basins sit behind breakwaters at Langney Point, east of Eastbourne’s seafront. The harbour has a waterfront of bars, restaurants and cafés, a yacht club with racing, cruising and social programmes, and a full-service boatyard. Eastbourne and the South Downs National Park are inland.
Sovereign Harbour is the coastwise stop between Newhaven and Dover, and a departure point for France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Arrival by Sea
Approaching from the east or south-east, watch for tide rips over the Royal Sovereign Shoal, the Horse of Willingdon and the Coxheath Shoal inshore. From the west, stay a mile off the shore after rounding Beachy Head.
The Martello Tower at Langney Point carries a light, Fl(3) 15s 12m 7M. A safe water mark (LFl.10s) at 50°47'.37N 000°20'.81E marks the start of the entrance channel; call Sovereign Harbour on Channel 17 there.
Seaward of the breakwater the channel is buoyed with two green starboard-hand marks and a yellow special mark. The green buoys mark a First World War wreck that shows at low water springs. Keep in the white sector of the single leading light on 258° True: if it shows red, alter to starboard; if it shows green, alter to port.
Inside the harbour the speed limit is 5 knots. Pass between the lit breakwater heads, leave the leading line when you can see the lock traffic signals, and follow the buoyed channel, dredged to 2.4 metres below chart datum. Parts of the Outer Harbour dry at low water. The locks take vessels at all states of the tide.
Choosing a Berth
Book a visitor night online through Premier or call reception, then report in on Channel 17 or by telephone when you arrive. Premier’s schedule of charges for 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027 sets these visitor rates.
The minimum charge is for 8 metres. A visitor night runs from midday to midday, and overnight berthing includes free Wi-Fi and £10.00 of electricity in total, whatever the length of stay. Boats over 24 metres are priced on application. A short-stay berth of up to four hours is £1.48 per metre, with an 8-metre minimum, and does not include electricity.
Wide-beamed boats are charged 1.5 times the published rate for their length. All prices include VAT and are payable in advance. Premier accepts Visa, Mastercard and Maestro cards, bank transfer and direct debit, but does not take cash.
For a longer stay, seasonal berthing has a 30-night minimum with no ongoing commitment, paid in full before arrival. For 30 nights it runs from £63.24 per metre off-peak (September to May) and £70.27 per metre in the peak months of June to August, for boats of 7.6 to 8.0 metres, rising with length. Annual berthing at Sovereign Harbour runs from £496.00 per metre a year for boats of 7.6 to 8.0 metres, paid annually, with a monthly direct-debit option, and annual berth holders at any Premier marina receive 42 free visitor nights and unlimited short stays across the group, Sea Start benefits and fuel at cost.
Premier’s charges apply to boats kept for personal, non-commercial use. Commercial boats need a separate licence, applied for through the Marina Manager at [email protected].
| Length overall | Visitor rate |
|---|---|
| 8.0–12.5 m | £4.50 per metre per night |
| 12.6–16.0 m | £4.75 per metre per night |
| 16.1–20.0 m | £5.00 per metre per night |
| 20.1–24.0 m | £6.50 per metre per night |
Facilities Afloat & Ashore
Reception and security run 24 hours. Water on the pontoons is free of charge, and Wi-Fi is free under a fair-use policy. Electricity beyond the included allowance is charged at 31.27 pence per unit, and a replacement access fob costs £5.00. The marina has laundry facilities, and bottled gas is sold as refills and new bottles, with current prices from reception: Calor butane in 4.5, 7 and 15 kg, Calor propane in 6, 13 and 19 kg, and Camping Gaz 904 and 907.
Bars, restaurants and cafés line the waterfront, and the yacht club runs racing, cruising and social programmes.
Marine Services
The boatyard runs a 60-tonne travel hoist and a 1.5-tonne crane for engine and mast work, with high-pressure hull cleaning, lift-and-block and storage ashore. A chandlery and marine trades on site support maintenance and repairs. Boatyard work and marina services outside office hours carry a surcharge.
Ashore
Eastbourne’s town centre and seafront are to the west along the coast, with Beachy Head and the South Downs National Park beyond.
Best For
Sovereign Harbour suits boats that want a lock at any state of tide.
- Locked, all-tide overnight berths east of Beachy Head
- Crews on passage between Newhaven and Dover, or staging a Channel crossing
- Boats needing a 60-tonne hoist and full marina services
Less Suitable For
Peak season and the offshore shoals are the things to plan for.
- Unbooked arrivals in peak season
- Approaches from the east that have not allowed for the Royal Sovereign, Horse of Willingdon and Coxheath shoals
Nearby Cruising
Newhaven and Brighton lie to the west, beyond Beachy Head. Dover and Ramsgate lie to the east.
Skipper's Notes
Channel 17 at the safe water mark.
- Call Channel 17 at the safe water mark, 50°47'.37N 000°20'.81E.
- Book online or on 01323 470099.
- From the west, stay a mile off after Beachy Head. From the east, watch the Royal Sovereign, Horse of Willingdon and Coxheath shoals.
- Leading light white sector 258° True; the green channel buoys mark a wreck.
- Harbour speed limit 5 knots; channel dredged to 2.4 metres below chart datum.
- Visitor nights from £4.50 per metre (minimum 8 metres).
Tides & Weather
Sovereign Harbour tide tables from UKHO data are on BBC Weather and ADMIRALTY EasyTide.
Frequently asked questions
What VHF channel does Sovereign Harbour use?
Channel 17. Call at the safe water mark at the start of the entrance channel.
Are the Sovereign Harbour locks open 24 hours?
Yes. Two 24-hour high-capacity locks take vessels at all states of the tide, and reception is open 24 hours.
How much is a visitor night at Sovereign Harbour?
From £4.50 to £6.50 per metre per night depending on length, with a minimum charge of 8 metres. Overnight berthing includes free Wi-Fi and £10.00 of electricity.
Where is the Sovereign Harbour safe water mark?
At 50°47'.37N 000°20'.81E, showing LFl.10s.
What is the speed limit inside Sovereign Harbour?
5 knots.
