Channel Islands: Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors
12 harbours
Channel Islands: 12 harbours, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.
Formalities
outside the EU customs unionCurrency: Pound sterling (Jersey and Guernsey pound)
Clearing in: Crown Dependencies with their own authorities, neither EU nor United Kingdom: when arriving from France or England, fly the yellow flag and report your arrival (Jersey Customs and Immigration, Guernsey Border Agency, in Alderney at the harbour office), usually by form on the pontoon or online. Back to France, the Schengen and customs border applies.
Documents: Passport, boat papers, insurance, SRC.
Fees: Harbour dues per night; the visitor basins in St Helier and St Peter Port lie behind a sill and can only be reached around high water.
Fairway: One of the largest tidal ranges in Europe (over 10 m at springs off Jersey), Alderney Race and The Swinge with streams over 7 kn, many rocks and shoals.
Nature: Ramsar sites on the coasts, bird protection on Burhou off Alderney.
Emergency: 999 or 112; Jersey Coastguard and Guernsey Coastguard, VHF channel 16 and DSC.
Sources: Government of Jersey, Customs and Immigration, States of Guernsey, Border Agency (as of 2026-10-20)
Harbours by cruising area
Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney)
Frequently asked questions
Channel Islands: Do I need to clear in?
Crown Dependencies with their own authorities, neither EU nor United Kingdom: when arriving from France or England, fly the yellow flag and report your arrival (Jersey Customs and Immigration, Guernsey Border Agency, in Alderney at the harbour office), usually by form on the pontoon or online. Back to France, the Schengen and customs border applies.
Channel Islands: Which documents do I need on board?
Passport, boat papers, insurance, SRC.
Channel Islands: What fees apply?
Harbour dues per night; the visitor basins in St Helier and St Peter Port lie behind a sill and can only be reached around high water.
Channel Islands: What is the emergency number at sea?
999 or 112; Jersey Coastguard and Guernsey Coastguard, VHF channel 16 and DSC.
Channel Islands: How many harbours does Sailseer cover?
Sailseer covers 12 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning.