Spithead

Spithead is an eastern area of the Solent and a roadstead for vessels off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds except those from the southeast, with the Isle of Wight lying to the south-west. Spithead and the channel to the north is the main approach for shipping to Portsmouth Harbour and onwards to Southampton. Spithead itself is an important naval anchorage. Historically, Spithead was used for assembling Royal Navy ships, including as a formation area for squadrons or fleets at anchor, as well as for the resupply of ships.

==Geography== thumb|Two Captured Danish Ships Entering Portsmouth Harbour by Turner, 1807. thumb|Spithead, on a 1:633600 scale OS map from 1904 thumb|right|1967 Admiralty Chart of the area (Nab Tower to Spithead) It receives its name from the Spit, a sandspit that stretches south from the Hampshire shore for . Spithead is long by about in average breadth. Horse and Dean Sand lie to the NE side and Ryde Sand and No Man's Land to the South side.