Solent Hazards
This guide is helpful, but it does not cover every potential hazard on the Solent. Before setting out on your charter, you should carefully review local charts and the latest Notices to Mariners.
The copper boilers of the S.S. Varvassi will catch the unwary every time. They are just visible at lowest astronomical tides.
The Shingles extend from west of Hurst Castle. They are exposed at lowest astronomical tides – follow the bouyage to avoid.
Inbetween Totland and Colwell Bay, avoid Warden Ledge. A rocky hazard extending several hundred meters from Warden point.
Strong tidal flows and an unmarked ‘trap’ extending beyond the spit to catch the unwary. The trap moves.
A rocky embankment outside and to the west of Yarmouth harbour. Stay well north of black rock buoy.
An arrow-shaped sandbar exposed at low tides. Follow the bouyage carefully to avoid.
When approaching Fishbourne from the west, keep an eye out for Wootton Rocks which are marked by a red post.
Go nowhere near Ryde! Ryde Sands are extensive and extend several hundred metres into what looks like clear open water.
East of the entrance to Portsmouth harbour, concrete blocks stretching a mile into the Solent from the shore.
Beware of the sand bar and shallow waters when entering the harbour; really safe access has state of tide limits.
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FAQs
Know the Solent before you go
The banks, wrecks and big-ship rules every helm needs to understand.
Bramble Bank is a sandbank in the middle of the Solent between Cowes and Southampton Water. It dries at low spring tides and regularly catches out boats and even large ships.
The SS Varvassi wrecked off The Needles in 1947. Its copper boilers are only just visible at the lowest astronomical tides, so they catch out unwary boaters.
The Shingles is a shifting gravel bank west of Hurst Castle beside the Needles Channel. Seas can break heavily on it, especially with wind against tide.
The barrier runs from Southsea towards the Isle of Wight. Boats must be very cautious when in this area, making sure to pass wide of the barrier, which stretches surprisingly far out into the Solent.
Large ships in the Southampton approaches have a Moving Prohibited Zone of 1,000m ahead and 100m either side, which small boats must keep out of. Keep a good lookout and stay clear of the main channels.
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