It is testament to the value and popularity of this work that it now has nearly three times as many pages as the first edition published more than 23 years ago. It sets out in superb detail and with excellent colour photographs all the hazards of the Solent from Cowes west to the Needles, across to the Shingles and all along the mainland shore to the forts and finally back along the island shore to Cowes. The photographs, many of them from the air, show the features at low spring tides and coastal views at chart datum. For both the cruising and racing Solent sailors, taken with its companion volume Solent Tides (also by Peter Bruce), it certainly should be considered essential reading.

PJN