The stretch of water between the Isle of Wight and the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth has been one of the busiest shipping areas around the British Isles since antiquity. It is no surprise that the Solent has claimed so many ships in its time. The Royal Navy has been based in Portsmouth for centuries and the ocean liners have been regularly sailing from Southampton since the nineteenth century, and this waterway has endured war, storms and accidents throughout its history, as well as witnessing numerous maritime celebrations and everyday passage of boats and ships. Among the shipping disasters on the Solent have been the unexpected sinking of the Mary Rose in 1545, the mystery of the Flag Theofano, missing from her anchorage in 1990, and the fight to save the disabled car carrier Höegh Osaka in 2016. The worlds worst hovercraft disaster in 1972 and the celebrations as the Mary Rose was raised ten years later show that the Solent is, and always has been, a place for history and drama.
In Shipwrecks of the Solent author Richard M. Jones reveals the stories behind the shipping disasters in the Solent. Illustrated throughout, it will appeal to all those with an interest in shipping and shipwrecks, as well as those interested in the history of this part of the south coast of England.
