Coming up the Coventry Canal (aka B&F - that bit) we found a hired Dayboat obviously firmly aground on the (much loved by BW so rarely removed) mud on the offside. We slowed and they asked us for help. (They were first timers with neither pole, boathook or clue.)
We were about to start taking their rope etc to pull them off when through the bridge in front came the perfect boat to do the job. Even at this distance from the throb of the engine and the lines it was an original ex-working tug. We told the dayboat crew that this was the answer to their prayer and waved the tug down asking them if the captain was willing to yank the dayboat off. At this suggestion the lady captains face lit up - she was very willing. We got out of the way and watched events... She stopped, backed, collected their front rope. (Rather than let them throw it near her prop.) Then she wound rope round boat studs and wound up her motor to show what a proper tug can do. To say the dayboat flew off the mud is not an exageration. It continued very rapidly diagonally across the cut hitting the towpath bank hard but by that time the lady had cast off the rope, and, giving a quick wave, was on her way. At this point it occured to us to wonder how many years had it been since the tug had last pulled a dayboat (on the BCN?) And how nice to see it pull a dayboat today - all be a very small one.
