Whether it’s truly invigorating sailing between the islands and France or a peaceful stop off in one of our bays, Alderney offers a fabulous sailing escape.
Our small friendly harbour offers secure moorings, a wide range of facilities, red diesel & marine petrol.
Braye harbour offers 70 visitor mooring buoys and anchorage areas sheltered by the impressive 1,430m long historic Victorian landmark, the breakwater.
The Harbour Office
Harbour Master and Coastguard are located at the Harbour Master’s Office, situated beside the Sailing Club at the SW end of the harbour.
You can get weather forecasts and reports at the Harbour Master’s Office which can also supply a Radar VTS and RDF service. The Harbour Master’s office also provides the Coastguard Service.
Contact the Harbour Office on +44 (0) 1481 820070 or harbour@alderney.gov.gg or VHF Ch 74
Open: Easter to September: 0800–1700
At all other times: Monday to Thursday 0800–1700 / Friday 0800–1400
Alderney Coastguard VHF 16 or 67.
If not obtainable, call Guernsey Coastguard (Ch.16, 20) or CROSSMA (French Coastguard, CH 16, 13, 80)
Moorings
The Harbour is unable to reserve moorings in Braye Harbour however, we do have 70 yellow moorings available to visitors.
The charge for mooring is £25.00 per night and anchor £10.00 per night.
Large vessel fee (vessel over 14 meters) £40.00 per night.
Mooring fees are collected by The Harbour Launch at your boat.
The Harbour launch also listens on Ch.74, call Harbour Launch.
Braye Harbour offers a good range of facilities to include fuel, water, showers, toilets, laundry, engineering and chandlery. A small Tourist Information room also offers WIFI.
Water Taxi
A Water Taxi runs in the summer months.
2026 Timetable:
Weekdays (April, May, June & September) 0800 – 2200
Weekdays (July & August) 0800 – 0000
Weekends - Friday/Saturday/Sunday (All season) 0800 – 0000
Bank Holidays 0800 – 0000
Contact our friendly Water Taxi team on +44 (0) 7781 121046 or VHF Channel 73
The charge for this service is £3 per adult / £1 U16, per one way. Payment by card accepted.
There are also a number of other anchorages around Alderney, in addition to Braye. None provide any facilities, and all are only safe in calm weather and/or offshore winds. Clockwise from Braye these are: Saye, Longis Bay, Telegraph Bay and Hannaine Bay. Whilst sailing around Alderney and specifically Burhou Island please be aware that there is a voluntary ‘Puffin Friendly Zone’ which all mariners are asked to observe in order to help protect the puffins.
Alderney's surrounding waters provide an exciting playground for sailors and the key is mastering its powerful tides. Get your timing right and you can cover much ground surprisingly quickly, the swell will take you either down the Channel towards Guernsey, or up towards the French coast at Goury (just 7.5 miles/11km away) and the other delightful villages en route to Cherbourg. As part of your Channel Island hopping you can head to the beautiful, tranquil islands of Sark and Herm, just off Guernsey. All these destinations are within just two or three hours very pleasant sailing.
Mainbrayce Chandlers
Located in Little Crabby Harbour Mainbrayce VHF Ch 37, is accessible to yachts approximately +/-2 hours of high water and at other times depending on state of tide and vessel draft. A tide gauge at the entrance indicates depth of water alongside. Mainbrayce provides fresh water, diesel, bottled gas, spares and mechanical assistance.
Pontoon Regulations
The passenger landing pontoon is to be used for the purpose of immediate pick up and landing of foot passengers by:
Small commercial vessels
Private leisure vessels
RIBs
Cruise ship tenders
Emergency services and Medevac vessels
Other suitable vessels at the discretion of the Duty Harbour Officer
Access to the pontoon may be denied due to factors including but not exclusive to the length, gross tonnage or maximum draft of a vessel.
During Harbour Office Hours permission for use of the pontoon must be requested on VHF channel 74
Longer term stays must be authorised by the Harbour Authority.
No permanent mooring will be permitted.
Vessels left unattended without permission may be moved, costs will be recovered by the Harbour Authority.
The pontoon may be removed from service in advance of any unfavourable or severe weather which has been clearly forecasted.
The pontoon will be removed from service at the end of the season - dates to be confirmed in September.
There is a separate dinghy pontoon which can be used by the tenders of private vessels who are mooring in the harbour.
Customs and Immigration
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for Alderney Arrivals
From 23 April 2026, some visitors sailing to Alderney (Bailiwick of Guernsey) will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before arrival.
Who needs an ETA?
You will need an ETA before travelling if you are:
A non-visa national
Arriving from outside the Common Travel Area (CTA)
(CTA = UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Ireland)Visiting for up to 6 months (including leisure sailing trips)
Non-visa nationals: Can usually travel for short visits (e.g. tourism, sailing trips) without a visa
→ Now need an ETA instead (from April 2026)Visa nationals: Must apply for a visa before travelling
→ ETA does not apply to them (they still need a visa)
This applies to all arrivals, including:
Pleasure craft / private yachts
Private aircraft
Scheduled ferries and flights
Who does NOT need an ETA?
You do not need an ETA if you are:
A British or Irish citizen
Travelling within the CTA (e.g. UK ⇄ Channel Islands, or Guernsey/Jersey to Alderney)
A resident of the CTA with valid immigration status
A visa holder for the CTA
Covered under specific schemes (e.g. French day-trip ID card scheme on the Manche Iles Express ferry)
Key things to know
ETA is a digital travel permission (not a guarantee of entry)
Cost: £16 (rising to £20)
Valid for 2 years or until passport expiry
Allows multiple visits of up to 6 months each
Each person needs one, including children
How to apply
Apply online via:
GOV.UK website
Official UK ETA app
Applications open from 9 April 2026.
Important for sailors
Ensure your ETA is approved before departure
Carry supporting documents if you have any immigration status in the CTA
Border checks still apply on arrival in Alderney
On arrival to Alderney
Vessels arriving in Alderney from outside of the Bailiwick of Guernsey are required to fill out the Guernsey Border Agency declaration form and place it in the yellow Customs box at the upper end of the dinghy pontoon walkway. You can also collect a copy of the form from the transparent box which is also located at the upper end of the dinghy pontoon walkway.
Completed forms must be placed in the yellow Customs box.
In addition, vessels arriving from any port outside the Bailiwick of Guernsey should display a yellow Q flag instead of the courtesy ensign until the yacht is properly cleared by the GBA, after which the Q flag is replaced by the courtesy flag.
All persons on board vessels arriving from places other than the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey or the other islands of the Bailiwick must be in possession of a valid passport and/or required visa.
You can only bring a dog to Alderney from the UK, IOM, Guernsey and Jersey.
Dogs cannot be brought across from the continent (mainland Europe) as there are no quarantine services in Alderney.
Pet Movements - States of Guernsey (gov.gg)
Alderney's Harbour Authority does not deal with Customs requirements. For more information, please contact Guernsey Border Agency
Guernsey Border Agency
New Jetty, White Rock, St Peter Port, Channel Islands, GY1 2LL
enquiries@gba.gov.gg
01481 221417
Visit our local Sailing Club and share your stories over a drink with Alderney's sailors