Shipwrecks of the Solent

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 19th 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 Hoegh Osaka in 2016. In this book the author reveals the stories behind the shipping disasters in the Solent.