Depending on draft, boats can generally enter the harbour for 3 hours before and 3 hours after high tide. For the remainder of the tide, the harbour dries out and the bottom is soft mud. All permanent moorings are allocated, but the Harbour Master will normally find a berth for bilge or lift keel yachts, and other boats, alongside another boat moored at the harbour wall, or near the harbour entrance.
On arrival, you should report to the Harbour Master for instructions and to pay any fees due. The outer SW wall of the harbour can be useful place to temporarily berth if the tide and weather permits. Boats greater than 30 foot will be more difficult to accommodate, and no boat greater than 40 foot, except in an emergency, may enter the harbour. Space in the harbour is very restricted and manoeuvring is very difficult, particularly in a strong westerly wind. Boats that cannot dry out, or those wishing to remain afloat, can anchor or moor in the West Bay. All the permanent moorings are private, except for the three most easterly moorings, which are owned by East Lothian Yacht Club, and are primarily over tide moorings, but they can be used by visiting yachts, affiliated to an RYA recognised club, for overnight stops for a small fee.
It should be noted that the water in the area of the moorings is shallow at low tide, and may even dry out in low water springs. The ELYC moorings particularly, are exposed to any swell and with the shallow water, can be very uncomfortable or dangerous in breaking seas.