Seven Stones Reef

The most infamous is the Torrey Canyon in 1967, which was at that time the world's costliest shipping disaster and, to date, still the worst oil spill on the coast of the United Kingdom.

Situated between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the Seven Stones reef consists of seven (or eight) peaks, some of which appear at half ebb and others at low tide.

Two English men o'war, the Primrose and Mayflower, were searching for two Spanish frigates which had been patrolling the area and had captured a Bristol bound vessel.

The sixth rate, 22 gun man o'war, Primrose lost her main topmast near the Longships, off Land's End and drifted onto the Seven Stones.

At the investigation into the loss, Trinity House, on behalf of the Admiralty, stated that they could not find any chart that showed the reef.

The Admiralty found that there was no neglect either by the Officers or company, the place of wreck being a rock not visible nor described in any chart they could find.

[7] At the time it was the world's costliest shipping disaster, and to date, still the worst oil spill on the coast of the United Kingdom.

[5] Since 1987, the ship has been automated and unmanned with the accommodation and storage areas filled with foam to help with buoyancy in the event of a collision.

[6] There is a legend, part of the King Arthur scenario, that there was once a land between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, known as Lyonesse, with several towns and 140 churches.

The area is also part of Arthurian legend when Merlin cast a spell to engulf the land and the forces of Mordred who were chasing the fleeing army of King Arthur who he had just slain in battle.