Brightlingsea Harbour is a small mixed leisure and commercial port with a rich heritage, situated close to the mouth of the Colne Estuary where it meets the Blackwater and Thames Estuaries. The River Colne is navigable on the tide for seven miles to Colchester and the River Blackwater is navigable for 11 miles to Maldon, while Brightlingsea is a day's sail from most ports on the Thames Estuary. It's one of the East Coast’s most historic destinations for sailors, offering a choice of marina or linear pontoon berths, while the nearby town offers a  selection of friendly, locally run pubs, shops, clubs and services, most only a short walk from the waterfront where you'll also find an outdoor swimming pool and a family-friendly beach.
The Harbour is a Trust Port managed by Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners. Harbour Master James Thomas leads a  team of permanent and seasonal staff and brings both Army and business experience to his role. “I spent 23 years in the Army where I learned about boats and their management, then I was involved in construction and running small businesses," James explains. "The harbour is a business and must be run as such; I also have a statutory role to ensure safe navigation within the area of responsibility.”

Working from an office that has a small balcony projecting out onto ‘the Hard’ – the point where the road meets the sea – James says: “I can see all the way down the Town Jetty and enjoy the view of historic smacks on the Heritage pontoon. We have approximately 376 residential and at least 10 dedicated visitor moorings.”
The Brightlingsea area is tidal, which makes berthing relatively simple; staff are always on hand to direct yachts to berths and take their lines. Every year approximately 2,200 yachts visit, along with hundreds of power boaters, other watercraft users, dinghy sailors and racers – during summer the harbour can be very busy! “Access is easy, everything you need to know is published on our website, which includes an electronically updated depth gauge giving height above chart datum,” says James. “You can choose to stay in the marina or on the linear pontoons in the creek. The main channel from the mouth of the creek is dredged to a minimum of 1m below CD.”
Marina access is over a sill which is 1m above CD either side of HW. “The ground is a very soft, silty mud in suspension which allows keels to sink in without causing any damaging to them,” he adds.
“Call on VHF Ch68 when entering the Harbour, let us know your length and whether you want a berth in the marina or linear pontoons then wait by the Northerly cardinal – we pride ourselves in never sending anyone away,” he says. “There is a tendency for vessels when waiting to unintentionally head north of the cardinal – this should be avoided as it becomes very shallow very quickly.”
James has his own 30ft yacht which he enjoys sailing locally when off-duty. Of work he says: “I try to get out on the water daily, just to see what is going on and collect my thoughts; however much of the time I am sailing a desk!”
If you're keen to explore further afield, a custom-built ferry boat carried foot passengers, wheelchair users and cyclists to nearby locations including East Mersea and Clear Point. Lunch cruises, harbour tours and nature walks open up an even wider opportunity to see what this beautiful area has to offer.
www.brightlingseaharbour.org