Ransome’s Nancy Blackett in "Round the Island" Duel

Two classic Hillyard  yachts - one of them Arthur Ransome's Nancy Blackett  - will be taking part* in this year's Round the Island Race, an annual race that circumnavigates the Isle of Wight.

Nancy Blackett, more famous as the Goblin in Ransome's book "We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea," is a 28ft 6in transom-sterned 7-tonner, built in 1931, and now preserved by the Nancy Blackett Trust.

Billy Blue, built in 1932, is a 29ft 6in canoe-sterned  9-tonner, is owned by a private syndicate.

Both boats are of a similar age and size and will be raising funds for charity. They will be happy to complete the 50-mile course without being timed-out.

This year's Round the Island Race is on 19th June, with an early start time of 5am. JP Morgan Asset Management announced at the Boat Show that it will be continuing to sponsor the race until 2012. This year's race will feature live GPS tracking facilities via suitably-equipped mobile phones or laptops, an online photo gallery and a free water-taxi service at Cowes.

*Subject to favourable weather and sea conditions
The original version of this article was published by Classic Boat magazine. Republished with permission.

More Photos of the Laying-up Weekend

The Tide Mill Yacht Harbour

Tea at Woodbridge Cruising Club

The Nancy Blackett Trust stall at Woodbridge Maritime Boat Jumble on the Sunday
(this got a lot busier later - we sold loads of cards, teatowels, etc. - but not the copper kettle - any offers?)

- John Benford, Sailing Secretary

Nancy is Now Laid-up for the Winter

Nineteen people attended Nancy's laying-up day on 17th October at the Tide Mill Yacht Harbour, Woodbridge. A barbecue lunch was provided by John Smith, with tea and a raffle draw held later that afternoon in Woodbridge Cruising Club. Sixteen people enjoyed dinner at the Cherry Tree in the evening.

Nancy was lifted out on 19th October at Robertson's Yard.

I have already received one bid for sailing on Nancy next year, when it is planned she will be in the Solent.

- John Benford, Sailing Secretary

Nancy Blackett at 'Free the Quay' at Mistley

On Sunday 4th October Ed Williams and John Benford sailed the Nancy Blackett around from Woolverstone to support this demonstration against the fence that has been erected at Mistley Quay.

See http://www.freethequay.org/

For more photos of this event see Nancy's Facebook page or go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/johnabenford/FreeTheQuay2009#

Retrospective: Nancy's Voyage to London (Part 4)

The fourth and final set of images of Nancy Blackett's voyage to London in September, featuring Tower Bridge and St. Katherine's Dock.

Photo credits: A Beck

Retrospective: Nancy's Voyage to London (Part 3)

The third in a series of four sets of images of Nancy Blackett's voyage to London, featuring the Thames Barrier and Canary Wharf.

Photo credits: A Beck

Retrospective: Nancy's Voyage to London (Part 2)

The second in a series of four sets of images of Nancy Blackett's voyage to London in September, featuring Dartford and the Thames Estuary.

Photo credits: A Beck

Retrospective: Nancy's Voyage to London (Part 1)

The first in a series of four sets of images of Nancy Blackett's voyage to London in September, featuring Brightlingsea and the Thames Estuary.

Photo credits: A Beck

Nancy's Voyage Home in Pictures (Part 4)

The final in a series of four sets of images from Nancy Blackett's voyage home from London to Woolverstone on Saturday 26th September, featuring the Thames Barrier and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at Dartford.

Photo credits: M. Jacobson

Nancy's Voyage Home in Pictures (Part 3)

The third in a series of four sets of images from Nancy Blackett's voyage home from London to Woolverstone on Saturday 26th September, featuring the Millennium Dome and the Thames Barrier.

Photo credits: M. Jacobson

Nancy's Voyage Home in Pictures (Part 2)

The second in a series of four sets of images from Nancy Blackett's voyage home from London to Woolverstone on Saturday 26th September, featuring scenes heading from Canary Wharf downriver to Greenwich.

Photo credits: M. Jacobson

Nancy's Voyage Home in Pictures (Part 1)

The first in a series of four sets of images from Nancy Blackett's voyage home from London to Woolverstone on Saturday 26th September, featuring Nancy in St. Katherine's Dock, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf.

Photo credits: M. Jacobson

Nancy's Voyage Home Finishes

We are pleased to report that the Nancy Blackett made the most of the prevailing flat and calm conditions yesterday, and was able to make it home to Woolverstone late yesterday evening, at 10.45PM.

Nancy's Voyage Home Begins

The Nancy Blackett left St Katherine's Dock at 6.30am today, having had her mooring ropes pass inspection by the local heron an hour or so before. Released from her enforced imprisonment by the unsuitable tides and winds of the past couple of weeks, her crew made the most of late September's Indian summer and motored downriver towards Canary Wharf.

Good progress was made with the QE2 Bridge at Dartford being passed just after 9am and the near dead calm of the Maplin Sands reached by early afternoon.

Further updates will be received when Nancy is back in signal range, which may not be until she reaches Woolverstone hopefully later tomorrow.

Nancy Blackett: A Nautical Treasure

Nancy Blackett is featured in the Times as part of its coverage of this weekend's Thames Festival:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article6829461.ece

Nancy reached St Katherine's Dock, London, at 5PM today and should be open to visitors during most of the weekend.

Nancy Blackett for London's Thames Festival

The first-ever Classic Rally on the Thames is taking place in St Katharine Dock, London, as part of this year's Thames Festival, and Nancy Blackett is planning to be there.

The Rally is on 12-13 September, and will feature at least 30 traditional yachts and workboats, some of which, like Nancy, will be open to the public. There will also be entertainments and stalls shoreside, including a Nancy Blackett Shop presence, and also the general Festival entertainments, including a massive firework display.

Do come and see Nancy at St Katherine's. Entry is free, times are noon-7pm on Saturday and Sunday.

More details of the Rally on www.thamesfestivalclassicrally.com, and of the Festival in general on www.thamesfestival.org

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.

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

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.

Nancy Blackett's Gosport and Portsmouth in Pictures

On her return voyage from Falmouth, Nancy Blackett spent a few days at the end of June in Gosport Marina, while waiting for suitable weather.

Below are some photos of Gosport and Portsmouth Harbour, HMS Endeavour, Ark Royal, and views of and from the Spinnaker Tower, taken on July 1st 2008.

Photo Credits: M Jacobson

Nancy Blackett's Falmouth in Pictures - Part 5

The fifth and final in a series of photographs taken during Nancy Blackett's visit to Falmouth during May 2008.

May 26th: The Swallows and Amazons exhibition at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, and a final shot of Nancy Blackett.

Photo Credits: I Jacobson

Nancy Blackett's Falmouth in Pictures - Part 4

The fourth in a series of photographs taken during Nancy Blackett's visit to Falmouth during May 2008.

Nancy Blackett took visitors on trips across Falmouth Harbour to Flushing and back after the Arthur Ransome Society AGM on May 25th. The following photos were taken on the penultimate trip of the day.

Photo Credits: I Jacobson