Anniversary Goodies Launch New Online Shop

Nancy Blackett, Arthur Ransome's Hillyard, is 75 years old this year. To mark the occasion, the Nancy Blackett Trust has produced a souvenir cotton teatowel and a pack of notelets, which have been designed by Claudia Myatt. The designs feature images and quotations associated with the Arthur Ransome's book 'We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea', in which Nancy Blackett appeared as Goblin, and include Pin Mill and the Goblin's route to Flushing.

The teatowel costs £5.00 and the notelets £3.50. Delivery for either item is £1.00 to the UK, and £2.00 to the rest of the world, and both are now available from the new Nancy Blackett Online Shop.

They are the first products to be available for sale through the shop, launched today, which will feature additional products from next year. The shop provides an easy means for Nancy Blackett supporters and enthusiasts worldwide to purchase goods by mail-order and help raise funds to help look after Nancy Blackett.

£10K Anniversary Appeal Launched

Ten years after the launch of the original appeal for funds to purchase and preserve Arthur Ransome's boat Nancy Blackett, the Nancy Blackett Trust is opening a new fund designed to secure the future of the historic vessel.

The aim is to create a reserve fund ready to meet any unforeseen emergency repairs, or more predictable (but large and infrequent) expenses such as a new engine or new spars and rigging.

"Unlike the original appeal, this isn't a dramatic race-against-time," explained Trust Chairman Peter Willis. "It's more a matter of good housekeeping. We have managed for nine years to keep abreast of running costs and routine maintenance, but we've never been able to build up the sort of rainy-day reserve which is considered prudent for an operation such as ours to have.

"So we are looking to raise £10,000, and are appealing to supporters - our ever-generous members and others - to make the bit of extra effort to create this buffer fund."

Prosaically entitled the Replacement and Reserves Appeal, it was launched on May 1st, ten years almost to the day after the original proposal to purchase the Nancy Blackett for £25,000. Appropriately, it also marks Nancy Blackett's 75th birthday.

If you would like to contribute to the Appeal, please send a donation by cheque to:
The Nancy Blackett Trust, Sylvan Cottage, White House Walk, Farnham, Surrey, United Kingdom GU9 9AN.

If you are a UK Taxpayer, please copy and paste the following statement - and sign it:
"I am a UK taxpayer and wish this and any subsequent donations to be treated as Gift Aid."
Don't forget to add your full name and address.

Gala AGM and Ransome Memorial Voyage are 2006's Highlights

2006 is a year of special anniversaries, including the 75th anniversary of the building of Nancy Blackett, and the 10th anniversary of the launch of the original Nancy Blackett Appeal, which led to the formation of the Nancy Blackett Trust.

The two key events planned to celebrate these anniversaries are a special Gala AGM, to be held at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club from June 2nd-4th, which will be followed by a Ransome Memorial Voyage from Harwich to Vlissengen and cruising in Holland (and return) from June 5th-16th.

All Events in 2006:

September
09-10: Maritime Woodbridge/Heritage Open Days

May-August
Subject to demand: A variety of trips along the East Coast, and an additional trip to Holland (in August) - for details see end of page.

August
19-28: East Coast Classics, Walton-Alde (OGA)
13: Woodbridge Regatta, Woodbridge (subject to confirmation)

July
15-16: Swamazons, Hamford Water - OGA's "Secret Water" dinghy event, including the Round Swallow Island Race

June
24: OGA Royal Hospital School Joint Event, Holbrook and Wrabness
16-18: Brigaff, Brightlingsea - OGA Weekend
05-16: Ransome Memorial Voyage, Harwich/Vlissingen/Holland (cruising)
02-04: Gala AGM/Nancy Blackett's 75th Birthday, Royal Harwich Yacht Club (with short sailing trips)

May
20-26: Schools Week

April
21-23: Mate Training Weekend
10-11: Delivery Voyage
8-9: Working Party, Woodbridge

March
25-26: Working Party, Woodbridge

Additional Trips subject to demand:
Up, down, across and around
In addition to all the above, with dates to be arranged to suit crews, skippers and other events, we are planning a range of short, medium and long trips – locally (between the Deben and Brightlingsea) and further afield, north to the Broads, south to the Medway, and possibly a second voyage over to Holland, in August, depending on demand.

We also have invitations to meet up with the restored sailing smack Pioneer, being operated by OYT-East, and attend Woodbridge Regatta (13 August).

Note: All dates are subject to skipper and boat availability, and weather

To arrange a sail – assuming you’re already a member - phone or e-mail Judy Taylor to discuss your requirements and available dates.
Sailing Secretary: Judy Taylor
Phone: 01536 481895
E-mail: judypeter@thetaylors.f9.co.uk
Post: 19 The Square, Thorpe Malsor, Kettering NN14 1JP

Costs:
Nancy is operated as a club boat with members who sail contributing to the costs at the rate of £25 per person per day, with reductions for Work Credits, for Juniors and for day-sails (non-overnight).

A Very Special Year Ahead for Nancy

Double celebrations are in order next year, as not only does Nancy Blackett celebrate her 75th anniversary, but it is also the 10th anniversary of the Nancy Blackett Appeal, which resulted in the purchase of Nancy and the formation of the present Trust.

Various celebratory events and activities are being planned, details of which will be published when available. The first confirmed date is for a special AGM weekend on June 3rd and 4th 2006, to be held at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club, at Woolverstone in Suffolk.

It is intended that Nancy's Sailing Programme for 2006 will be based in and around her East Coast home waters, with possible voyages across the North sea to Vlissingen and Dutch waters.

It also hoped to give Nancy herself a birthday present, in the form of a new mainsail. If you would like to contribute our Mainsail Fund, please send your cheques, payable to the Nancy Blackett Trust, to our Chairman (click here for his address).