The Nancy Blackett Trust - Arthur Ransome's Nancy Blackett

Access to Nancy's Calendar

2010-05-07T22:39:00.001+01:00

From John Benford, Sailing Secretary.

If any member wants to be able to view Nancy's Calendar/Schedule for 2010, please send an (empty) email to

"John Benford" <nancyblackettsailsec@googlemail.com>

with 'Add me to Nancy 2010 Calendar'

as the subject.

I'll then add you to the list of people who can read the calendar. If you do not have a Google account, you'll then get an automatically-generated email inviting you to set up a Google Calendar account and, in doing so, will be able to choose your own password.

You will then be able to see what Nancy is doing this year, and which cruises have vacancies.

Nancy Blackett Country: Walton and Oakley Creek

2010-03-05T20:28:00.002Z

The seveth in a series of videos from Dylan Winter, made as part of Keep Turning Left, his extended circumnavigation of Great Britain, in which he continues exploring the Walton Backwaters, (Arthur Ransome's "Secret Water", in which the Nancy Blackett appeared as the Goblin), and sails up Oakley Creek, home to a registered explosives dock and a colony of 70 seals.

Please note that this video is a short preview. To view the full 18-minute film, for just $0.99, go to Keep Turning Left.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/64qczKTqiZc&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;rel=0"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Click here to see the video&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Nancy Blackett Country: Seals, Storms and Kite-surfers

2010-02-26T07:00:00.001Z

The sixth in a series of videos from Dylan Winter, made as part of Keep Turning Left, his extended circumnavigation of Great Britain, in which he attempts to shelter from a storm in the Walton Backwaters, (Arthur Ransome's "Secret Water", in which the Nancy Blackett appeared as the Goblin), encounters some seals and meets the local kite-surfers.

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/NphmuKymn_4&amp;amp;rel=0"&amp;gt;Click here to see the video&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;

Nancy Blackett Country: Taming the East Anglian Marshes

2010-02-19T07:00:00.006Z

The fifth in a series of videos from Dylan Winter, made as part of Keep Turning Left, his extended circumnavigation of Great Britain, in which he discovers how the Dutch helped to tame the Walton Backwaters, (Arthur Ransome's "Secret Water", in which the Nancy Blackett appeared as the Goblin).

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/NphmuKymn_4&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;rel=0"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Click here to see the video&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Nancy Blackett Country: The Tendring Peninsula - Brightlingsea to Walton

2010-02-12T07:00:00.001Z

The fourth in a series of videos from Dylan Winter, made as part of Keep Turning Left, his extended circumnavigation of Great Britain, in which he sails from Brightlingsea to the Walton Backwaters (Arthur Ransome's "Secret Water", in which the Nancy Blackett appeared as the Goblin), and reveals the fascinating stories of Martello towers, seaside piers, the humble beach hut, and invaders past and present.

Amazonia Now Available on BBC iPlayer

2010-02-08T19:00:00.029Z

"Amazonia", the BBC radio drama about Arthur Ransome's early life in Russia, is now available on BBC iPlayer until 9:32PM on Sunday 14th February.

Nancy Blackett Country: Witch's Quay - from Secret Water

2010-02-05T07:00:00.015Z

The third in a series of videos from Dylan Winter, made as part of Keep Turning Left, his circumnavigation of Great Britain, in which he drifts with the tide up Kirby Creek to Witch's Quay, familiar to readers of Arthur Ransome's "Secret Water", in which the Nancy Blackett appeared as the Goblin.

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/NphmuKymn_4&amp;amp;rel=0"&amp;gt;Click here to see the video&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;

Nancy Blackett Country: In the Wake of Ransome - Into Secret Water by the Back Door

2010-01-29T07:00:00.005Z

The second in a series of videos from Dylan Winter, made as part of Keep Turning Left, his circumnavigation of Great Britain, in which he explores Arthur Ransome's life, as well as sailing a circuit of the Walton Backwaters, familiar to readers of Arthur Ransome's "Secret Water", in which the Nancy Blackett appeared as the Goblin.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/0awgCm8NjnQ&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;rel=0"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Click here to see the video&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

New Ransome Radio Play to Premiere in February

2010-01-28T00:08:00.001Z

A new radio play, "Amazonia", dramatising the life of Arthur Ransome during his time in Russia, is due to premiere on BBC Radio 3 on February 7th at 8PM.

Written by Garry Lyons and produced by Crosslab Productions, the play follows Ransome's dual roles of front-line correspondent and double-agent in Russia during the First World War and the Bolshevik Revolution.

A short preview with behind-the-scenes photos can be seen below:

via the Arthur Ransome Society

Nancy Blackett Country: Walton Backwaters and the Naze

2010-01-24T22:55:00.007Z

The first in a series of videos from Dylan Winter, made as part of Keep Turning Left, his circumnavigation of Great Britain, in which he explores the Walton Backwaters and the Naze, familiar to readers of Arthur Ransome's "Secret Water", in which the Nancy Blackett appeared as the Goblin.

Click here to see the video

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

2010-01-20T23:07:00.005Z

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.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

2009-12-24T09:01:00.001Z

The Nancy Blackett Trust wishes a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to one and all.

More Photos of the Laying-up Weekend

2009-10-28T21:10:00.003Z

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

2009-10-28T17:38:00.005Z

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

2009-10-06T09:00:00.004+01:00

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)

2009-10-05T09:00:00.001+01:00

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)

2009-10-04T09:00:00.002+01:00

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)

2009-10-03T09:00:00.002+01:00

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)

2009-10-02T09:00:00.004+01:00

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)

2009-10-01T09:00:00.001+01:00

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)

2009-09-30T09:00:00.002+01:00

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)

2009-09-29T09:00:00.002+01:00

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)

2009-09-28T21:09:00.009+01:00

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

2009-09-27T11:19:00.007+01:00

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

2009-09-26T16:35:00.005+01:00

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.