Problem with water ballast?

[Peter Taylor]

There's a rumour that this boat might have had trouble with it's internal water ballast system.  Not one of Matt's designs I understand!  (Photographed 14 Jan 2015 from Lee on Solent)

[Michael Rogers]

Not QUITE the beauty of line that Matt aspires to.

Years ago (where do they go, those years?) there was a documentary on TV about the last working Thames barge (I don't think she even had an auxiliary engine). The skipper, whose name I forget but who also had a career as a folk singer, was a natural in front of the camera. As he was filmed at the wheel of his barge, chatting entertainingly in the peace and quiet of a sailing vessel, a rather unattractive modern merchant ship chugged past in the background. A brief glance, then a thumb jabbed over his shoulder - 'Just look at that. A chunk of the factory must've broken off and drifted out to sea'. In a nutshell.

[Michael Rogers]

He was Bob Roberts, and his barge was/is the Cambria. She has recently been refurbished and re-floated - there is a short film about it on Youtube.