A 3,000 feet (910 m) breakwater was built by the Admiralty to protect the Navy in the 19th century shelters Braye Harbour.

[1][2][3] The harbour faces out onto the Swinge, which is part of the English Channel, and it is at Braye that most of the island's freight comes in.

The original main harbour at Longis Bay was built in 1736 by Henry Le Mesurier, Governor of Alderney, at his own cost.

In 1807, twenty ships moored at this harbour were lost or damaged and the stone protection works were swept away by the sea.

[7]: 95 The western side of Braye Bay has been extended towards the east with a pier, which has created this sheltered artificial harbour.

[3] In the 19th century, according to the Admiralty charts of Braye Harbour, the depth of water was three fathoms at a distance of 450 feet (140 m) from the inner face of the western pier.

Anchor lines are used in shoal areas when the tidal range in the spring season of up to 6.9 metres (23 ft) permits such a use.

[13] The 3,000 feet (910 m) breakwater at Braye Harbour was built by the British to protect ships of the Navy between 1847 and 1864.

[14] It gives only partial protection to the harbour, as during storms the breakwater suffers damage and is constantly repaired and maintained.

The massive stone breakwater is generally used as a walk way to enjoy the scenic beauty of the bay, its harbour and the sea.

[3] Braye Harbour has a slipway but it doesn't have a marina (yet) and there are no alongside pontoon systems to berth to.