Britain Afloat

Mary-Ann Ochota discovers the story of the Thames sailing barge - a boat that played a key part in London's history, transporting goods and building materials up the Thames from Victorian times up to the early part of the 20th century. By meeting enthusiasts, current owners and one of the last surviving bargemen, Mary-Ann learns how the barge was designed specifically for the waters and conditions it would be sailing in - the mast lowers to go under London's bridges and the sails are high enough to catch the wind even in the most built-up of areas. Famously though, the barges were once put to sail in alien conditions - they were commandeered to play a part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940. There are still about 30 of these boats on the water - once there were more than 2,000 - though nowadays the emphasis is very much on pleasure, something Mary-Ann experiences for herself when she joins the annual Thames barge match.

Mary-Ann Ochota explores the story of the coracle, a boat that's as simple as they come, and which some believe has been on our waters for anything up to 40,000 years. Found all over the world, the coracle comes in many different shapes, often determined by local materials, conditions of rivers or the intended purpose of the boat. No longer as common a sight as they once were, there are still commercial coracle fishermen working the rivers of west Wales. Mary-Ann meets a man whose family has been coracle fishing the same river for over 300 years and joins a night-time fishing expedition. In Ironbridge, Shropshire, she hears how coraclemen led poaching expeditions to help locals in times of economic crisis. She also makes her very own coracle, which she uses to race in the annual Ironbridge Coracle Regatta, an event that proves there is still an enduring popularity to these little boats, even if the focus is now very much on fun.

Mary-Ann Ochota explores the story of the working narrow boat and discovers how it helped power the Industrial Revolution and shaped the lives of those who earned their living from the canals. These boats are now home to thousands around the country, offering an affordable way to own your own place. They were the HGVs of their day though, transporting all manner of wares across Britain's network of canals. Originally horse-drawn, with competition from railways and roads, they were adapted, first to steam, then diesel power, with varying degrees of success. Life on board was tough with anything up to nine people living in a space the size of a garden shed. With rich archive to illustrate, this programme shows how, despite the demise of the canals, dedicated enthusiasts have ensured that the boats - and the skills and traditions associated with them - still thrive.

Mary-Ann Ochota explores the story of the punt, a boat that helped our ancestors survive in some of Britain's toughest environments, and went on to become an Edwardian leisure craze that's still with us today. Punts are a part of life in some of our most historic cities like Oxford and Cambridge, but they have been around far longer than the ancient colleges. From Bronze Age craft dug up in the mud of East Anglia to the extraordinary gun punt, Mary-Ann discovers how these boats allowed people to hunt, fish and trade. Archive film tells the story of their transformation into the leisure craft we see today.

Mary-Ann Ochota discovers how the rowing eight - the fastest rowing boat in the world - developed from working boats on the Thames, when river taximen would race their boats for a bit of fun and a spot of gambling. Through the centuries, racing has become more formal, from the Doggett's Coat and Badge race - still going strong on the Thames after nearly 300 years and open only to apprentices working on the river - to the Oxford-Cambridge boat race and the Henley Royal Regatta, where elite crews compete from all over the world. Yet despite its origins - entertainment for river workers - the rowing eight found itself at the centre of a class war that ended up in Parliament. Meeting up with celebrated Olympians Anna Watkins and Sir Steve Redgrave, as well as veteran boat builders, Mary-Ann learns how technology and the athletes' quest for speed have produced the boat we know today.

Mary-Ann Ochota discovers how sailing on the Mersey, which began with fishermen racing each other for fun, developed into a way of life for many people in the region. Mary-Ann hears that whilst the sport now prides itself on being accessible to all, women were frequently banned from clubhouses, well into the 20th century. Many of the clubs in the region also designed their own boats, beautiful wooden craft with names like The Seabird and The Falcon - all specifically made for the Mersey waters. It led to a form of racing in which identical boats were pitted against each other. Winning was a question of skill not a question of who could afford the fastest boat. Today with leisure now a vital part of the regeneration of the former industrial area around Liverpool, sailing for pleasure is more popular than ever, with numerous regattas held on the Mersey. Mary-Ann takes part to experience sailing in these picture postcard boats.