Itchenor to Pilsey

Itchenor to Pilsey, with extensions towards Thornham Marina up the Thorney Channel.

Mission Statement: A short sail to a sandy beach in Chichester Harbour.

Trail Introduction

One of the busiest areas for sailing on the south coast, there are plenty of racing dinghies and moorings to see and navigate round as well as beautiful wildlife. This trail is best on a day with a low tide between noon and 16:00 so that you dry out nicely at Pilsey, and have the tide with you for the return. Pack your picnic and hop on board for a memorable days sailing!

Round Trip Distance: This is a short sail, sailing from Itchenor to the closest beach to Itchenor towards the harbour entrance. 2.5 miles there and 2.5 miles back.

Approximate Time that the Trail will take: 90 minutes in a Wayfarer or similar in F4 winds

OS Map or Chart: OL8 Admiralty

Trail Details

1. Launch from Itchenor
2. Sail to the West obeying the mavigation marks. There;s a refuge about 400m away at Cobnor Point which is hard rubble and not muddy like the rest of the upper harbour.
3. Continue to sail to Camber, a South Cardinal Mark in the centre of the channel (and the physical location of “CamberMet“). Turn North after Camber and there is a port hand mark and then further north a pair of port and starboard posts. Obey all navigation marks in this area as there are the remains of a failed Victorian land reclamation project which has left sharpened oak stakes pointing vertically underwater.
4. Pass the first port navigation mark and beach on Pilsey, which is on the West side of the channel between the port hand marks.

Pilsey is MOD land and there are clear signs reminding people to keep off the land above high water because of unexploded ordinance.

Trip Extensions

There is a lovely trip extension up the Thorney Channel, and just for somewhere to go there’s a racing mark just South of Thorney Island Sailing Club which adds a mile to the trip home.

If you wish to visit the top of the Thorney Channel this sail needs to be done on a Spring Tide, and

• 5. there is a beach just before Thornham Marina to land on, good for a SW or W wind
• 7. Right at the top of the channel by the road there is a beach, good for a East, North or West wind but it’s a lee short in a southerly

Tidal Information:
For a visit to Pilsey only – best on a neap tide.
If you are planning a trip up the top of the Thorney Channel – spring tide only.

Best Tides:
Pilsey only – lunchtime low tide = 12,13,14,15
Thorney Channel – lunchtime high tide = 12,13,14

Toilets:
There is nothing but solitude and seagulls at Pilsea.

There is a toilet at point 6. At the marina at the top of Thorney Channel there is a public convenience associated with the very lovely food and drink operation at Thornham Marina, The Huts Emsworth.

Page Month Published: Oct 2025

Dinghy Trail Sponsor: