麻豆社

Even in the Internet age, there's still a huge romantic buzz about a great ship. And as she manoeuvres her vast bulk round the buoys and bars of our great ports both the sleek liner and the towering container vessel will usually draw a crowd.

In this feature, keen sailor Libby Purves takes to the water to tell the little-known story of the men and women whose job it is to guide these big ships safely home in the best and the worst of weathers....and out to sea again - the ship's pilot.

Presented by Libby Purves.

Produced by Simon Elmes.

First broadcast on 麻豆社 Radio 4 in January 2008.