The Thames sailing barge is the icon of the East Coast, while the smacks and other former workboats are not so well known outside their home areas. However they are all part of the past and future of this coast. The traditional boats are at the heart of the local identity, fuelled by nostalgia and their functional beauty, many people battle to keep them going.

This book breaks new ground by bringing to life the story of the workboats on the East Coast of England and the people who sail them.