St Catherine's Breakwater

St. Catherine's Breakwater is all that exists of a projected "refuge" harbour for the Royal Navy. It was intended to be used as a forward base in the event of a blockade of the French coast. The harbour was designed during the period of Anglo-French rivalry during the 1840s, and work began on the North breakwater in 1847. It was finished in 1855, by which time Britain and France were fighting as allies against the Russians, and the planned Southern breakwater was never completed.

The breakwater provides shelter from south-westerly to north winds. The bottom of the harbour is mud and sand, and there is a landing slip at the base of the breakwater. It is now used mainly by leisure craft as a quiet anchorage. Fishermen use the long breakwater for catching conger eels, mackerel and bass.

See Ports and Harbours of the UK for more information.

Lion Park Lake

Freshwater lake used by the Lion Park Boat Club for sailing remote control boats.

For ABC Wednesday and Water World Wednesday.

Low tide in Gorey Harbour

The beach at Gorey Harbour has been used for loading cargo since at least the Middle Ages. In 1685 Dumaresq wrote that Gorey was the most ancient port of the Island and described the pier as "old and decayed". In 1815, it was decided to rebuild the decaying pier to serve the 150 or so visiting oyster-fishing boats stationed in the port during the season. The work cost £16,000 and was completed by 1817 and, in the following years, hotels, chandlers and houses were built along the pier when the land beneath the castle was sold off by the Crown.

Today the harbour has been taken over by yachts and small craft.

Read more on This is Jersey.

For Scenic Weekends

Inside Gorey Harbour

Inside Gorey Harbour at low tide.

For Outdoor Wednesday and ABC Wednesday.

Yacht Park

Across the road from St Catherine's Sailing Club which is Jersey's largest dinghy sailing club and the most southerly sailing club in Britain.
Club website.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday

Victoria Harbour

Viewed from Pier Road.

A contribution to Outdoor Wednesday and ABC Wednesday.
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Red dinghy

On the seawall at Gorey Harbour. The lines go out to craft moored on the beach.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday.

French Harbour, St Helier

From Pier Road looking over the yachts in the French Harbour towards the cranes on Albert Pier.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.