I remember years ago when the battleship USS Iowa, 45,000 tons, visited Portsmouth. We'd been aboard a day or so before, hugely impressive, and returned to see her departure from one of the local harbour boats.
We were a few minutes from sailing time, tide just right, tugs secured fore and aft to assist her from the berth. All of a sudden, round her stern came a guy paddling a kayak! Unbelievable! An MoD launch closed in to have words and I reckon he probably broke the Olympic record getting clear.
The departure was spectacular with hundreds of small craft accompanying her out of the harbour. Probably the only chance I'll ever have of seeing a real live battleship in commission.
Colin