Chichester Harbour
Chichester Harbour is a large natural harbour to the south west of the city of Chichester on the English Channel; geographically it is a ria. It is one of four natural harbours in that area of the coastline, the others being Portsmouth Harbour, Langstone Harbour and Pagham Harbour. It is managed by Chichester Harbour Conservancy [1].
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Description
To the south west of the entrance to Chichester Harbour is Chichester Bar, a shallow spit which can present a significant navigation hazard at all states of the tide. The entrance to the harbour is deep with a fast tidal stream and to the east of the main harbour entrance channel is a gravel bank known as The Winner. The east side of the harbour entrance is an area of geographical, recreational and conservation interest known as East Head. It is a large sand dune linked to land by a narrow area known as The Hinge. In recent years The Hinge has been breached by several storms and then repaired. There is much debate about whether and how it should continue to be repaired. Chichester harbour has three main channels. The Emsworth Channel, the Thorney Channel and the Chichester Channel, which also branches off into the Bosham Lake.
Conservation
Chichester Harbour is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It has a large saltmarsh habitat and is important as a fish nursery and for overwintering waterfowl.
Recreation
It is used for a wide variety of sailing, from dinghy racing to yacht marinas. It is also used for fishing. Harbour tours depart from Itchenor in a solar powered boat on summer weekends. It is also a popular area for birdwatching.
East Head at West Wittering is the only sandy beach on the West Sussex coast and is a very popular family and tourist destination on warm weekends.
Sailing Clubs of Chichester Harbour
- Bosham Sailing Club [2]
- Chichester Yacht Club [3]
- Chichester Cruiser Racing Club [4]
- Dell Quay Sailing Club [5]
- Emsworth Sailing Club [6]
- Emsworth Slipper Sailing Club [7]
- Hayling Island Sailing Club [8]
- Itchenor Sailing Club [9]
- Langstone Sailing Club [10]
- Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club [11]
- Thorney Island Sailing Club [12]
- West Wittering Sailing Club [13]
See also
External links
- grid reference SU755000
- Official website
- Chichester Harbour Trust
- Map of Chichester Harbour showing racing marks
- Useful resource with forums, photos and webcam
Categories
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England | West Sussex | Ports and harbours of the English Channel | Chichester | Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Hampshire | Sites of Special Scientific Interest in West Sussex | Nature Conservation Review sites