"We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea" is Now on CD

Arthur Ransome's "We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea" is now available as a talking book on CD, read by renowned actor and broadcaster Gabriel Woolf.

"We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea" is Arthur Ransome's classic tale in which four children (the Swallows of "Swallows and Amazons") cope with North Sea storms and their own inexperience aboard a small cruising yacht, the Goblin (based on the Nancy Blackett).

The CD set comprises four disks, with a total duration of approximately four hours, and is now available from the Nancy Blackett Shop for just £15.00 plus p&p.

Nancy is Ready for the Summer

The Nancy Blackett is relaunched, rerigged, fitted-out and back on her pontoon at Woolverstone, ready for a summer of sailing.

A select working party braved the wind and intermittent rain on Saturday to undertake the fitting-out at Woodbridge, and an even more select sub-group rewarded themselves later with an excellent dinner at the Anchor.

We left the bending-on of the sails over till Sunday in the hope that the weather might improve, which it did. No wind, bright sunshine, though still chilly. Jobs were finished in time for Nancy to leave the Tidemill as soon as the incoming tide had risen far enough over the sill.

Having inspected the Deben bar at low tide that morning, and consulted the local experts, skipper John Smith and his crew, John and Keith, proceeded to motor Nancy out of the river and round to the Orwell, arriving at Woolverstone early evening.

Our thanks to everyone who turned up, especially Honnor and Kerrin form Holleseley who saw to the watering, Jenny and Pete who got the sandwiches in, Sarah for the cakes and Richard for general good cheer, taxi service and calvados.

Antifouling All Done!

Nancy's antifouling was carried out over the weekend by a small but enthusiastic working party of NBT members. The weather – Nancy was outdoors this year – was fine, sunny and a bit breezy and barbecued burgers and grog were served up for lunch by skipper John Smith. The new bunk cushions also arrived and were installed.

Nancy will be relaunched in the next few days, and another working-party will complete her fitting-out next weekend. Thanks to everyone who helped with the antifouling.

For more information on Nancy's forthcoming engagements, please see the story below.

Sail into Summer Aboard Nancy Blackett

The Nancy Blackett returns to the water at the end of March, so once again there will be many new opportunities to sail aboard her this year. There is plenty of scope for both newcomers or those who have previously sailed on her and she is additionally available for group use.

To put in your crewing bids, or just to obtain further information regarding sailing this year, contact John Benford, our Sailing Secretary, at:

nancyblackettsailsec(at)googlemail.com.

An Action-Packed Season Ahead

This year's programme of events starts with the traditional anti-fouling weekend at Robertson's yard, Woodbridge, from Saturday 21st March. The following weekend is for fitting out at Tide Mill Marina, Woodbridge, and finally sailing Nancy back to Woolverstone on Sunday 29 March. Contact Judy Taylor to book in for meals for both weekends.

April sees the Old Gaffers Association Easter Rally from 10th - 13th, based at Shotley Marina while Nancy Blackett's summer will get properly under way with three consecutive weekends of activity in May and June:

May has Nancy available to TARS and NBT members from 16th - 31st, based at either Woolverstone or Shotley. The May dates coincide with both the TARS AGM (22nd - 25th) and the NBT AGM (30th at Pin Mill). Our AGM, which returns to the Pin Mill Sailing Club, coincides with the 20th anniversary (yes, that long!) of Mike Rines' famous dinner at the Butt & Oyster to celebrate Nancy's restoration. The list of Ransome alumni at that event was impressive, and we hope to have some of them back with us in May.

As Nancy will be at both AGMs, and we hope to take as many as possible on short trips, we are making her available during both the preceding week and the following week (half-term) for TARS and NBT members who will be staying on in the area and would like a somewhat longer sail. This should ease pressure on the main busy days.

For June there is a weekend cruise to 'Secret Water' to enjoy the OGA Swallows & Amazons Weekend with the Round the Island dinghy race (5th - 7th), the following weekend being a cruise to Brightlingsea for the OGA Rally (12th - 15th).

The Swamazons event, celebrating its 10th anniversary, includes the traditional dinghy race round Swallow (aka Horsey) Island. We already award the trophy for the overall winner; this year, we're adding a trophy (with a copy of "Secret Water") for the Junior helm. There will also e camping available for dinghy sailors attending.

July/August has the Summer Cruise to Holland planned, three parts to this: voyage there (22nd - 26th July), cruising inland Dutch waters, and more cruising with return passage.

Later in August is the OGA East Coast Classics, Rivers Deben, Orwell and Stour (16th - 22nd), a racing and social week.

September includes a new event, the St Kath's Rally, part of the Thames River Festival (12th - 13th).

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone from the Nancy Blackett Trust.

Winter Programme for Nancy

Nancy came out of the water on Monday October 20th at Robertson's, Woodbridge, after a very long and successful season. Over 20 members helped with the laying-up party on Saturday 18th during the day at the Tide Mill which was warm with bright sunshine. After tea and cakes in the Sea Scout room to draw the Raffle 17 members met at the Cherry Tree Inn for an evening meal to conclude a good social weekend. Thanks to everyone who lent a hand and demolished all the sandwiches and grog at lunchtime!

This year Nancy has been to Falmouth for the TARS IAGM, to Woolverstone for the NBT AGM, sailed with over 60 members in local waters and taken 20 young people from Thetford Grammar School for an experience sail.

Chairman of the Sailing Committee, Bryan Bonser, handed over responsibility for Nancy to Chairman of the Boat Committee, Brian Hammett, who will be supervising the winter re-fit programme. Any suggestions about work required to Brian by email, please, as soon as possible. (Yes - restuffing the bunk cushions is no. 1 on the list!).

The fitting out weekend in 2009 will be at the end of March or very early in April, to suit the tide and the yard. We hope to have an Easter cruise to start the season. Fitting out is expected to be at Robertsons on "the wall" but there will be further details early in January.

The provisional date for our 2009 AGM is Saturday May 31st at Woolverstone, one week after the TARS IAGM at Shotley. It is hoped members will stay for the days in-between and go sailing. During the year a trip to Holland is mooted. A possible cruise might be to the ports of the Thames estuary and we hope to attend several "Old Gaffer" events. Please put your ideas in to Judy Taylor, events planning. She will be producing an outline plan soon. Sailing Bids are requested to John Benford for particular places on the usual Bid form.

A Jibs and Bobs November edition is now in preparation by Peter Willis with all the latest news and information. My grateful thanks to everyone who sailed on, or worked on, or assisted with Nancy this year and kept her in very fair condition throughout.

Bryan Bonser

Sorry - no places left for the final trip of the season

All places on Nancy for the trip back to Woodbridge on October 17 are now taken. Nancy is only available for mid-week cruises until then - if a skipper can be found.

John Benford, Sailing Secretary

Two crew places available on Nancy

Last chance for a sail on Nancy this year!

Two crew places available.

Join at Woolverstone Thursday 16th October (and possibly sail part of the way that day) and sail to Woodbridge on the 17th, to deliver Nancy for being decommissioned (laid-up) on the Saturday (18th October).

Sleep aboard on Friday night (for a small consideration) if you like and help with the 'laying-up' on the Saturday.

(Lunch FOC, tea and cakes in the afternoon and join the rest of us for a meal in the Cherry Tree, Woodbridge, in the evening.)

Stay on board (for a small consideration) on Saturday night if you like.

John Benford, Sailing Secretary
The Nancy Blackett Trust
13 Prospect Place
Leiston
Suffolk
UK
IP16 4AL

01728 832579
email: nancyblackettsailsec@googlemail.com

Philip Pullman Chooses We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea

Bestselling children's author Philip Pullman has included Arthur Ransome's "We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea" amongst his 40 favourite books, a list compiled at the invitation of booksellers Waterstones for their Writer's Table promotion.

Writing on the Waterstones website, he comments "Ransome never strayed beyond the realistic, but what an exciting story this is: danger, courage, skilful seamanship, and a real respect for his young protagonists."

The promotion is currently running at selected Waterstones branches.