We look after Nancy Blackett, the favourite yacht of "Swallows and Amazons" author Arthur Ransome.
Find out more below...
Nancy Blackett now afloat and ready for action14th May 2025Nancy Blackett is now afloat and back in her berth at Woolverstone Marina – these photos were taken on Tuesday, shortly before the working party began bending on sails and loading equipment ... [Read More]- Nancy Blackett’s ready for relaunch – at last!12th May 2025Gleaming paintwork, immaculate varnish and fresh antifouling – after a long winter of restoration work, here is Nancy Blackett standing in Harry King’s boatyard in Pin Mill last Friday ... [Read More]
- In photos: Peter Duck’s launch at Woodbridge7th April 2025As Nancy Blackett’s still in the shed we thought you’d like to see one of her friends, Peter Duck, being launched at the Woodbridge Boatyard last Thursday (3rd April). Photos by Peter ... [Read More]
- The difference a month makes – Nancy Blackett’s restoration progress28th February 2025Traditional boatbuilding is by its nature a slow process, much reliant on craft skills and hand tools, so checking in on Nancy Blackett’s restoration work after our last report reveals real progress. ... [Read More]
Welcome
You can visit and sail the Nancy Blackett, once owned by “Swallows and Amazons” author Arthur Ransome and the star of his novel “We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea”, the seventh book of his “Swallows and Amazons” series, and probably his best sailing novel.
Nancy Blackett, lightly disguised in the book as the Goblin, was named after the “Amazon” pirate girl character who featured in “Swallows and Amazons”.
Nancy Blackett was Arthur Ransome’s favourite yacht and is now owned by the Nancy Blackett Trust, preserving her as a living part of the Arthur Ransome heritage. Each year many Ransome fans enjoy the experience of sailing her, and many more visit her at maritime events.
Explore our website to find out more about Nancy Blackett’s history, how you can sail her, how you can help support her, and the mission and work of the Nancy Blackett Trust.
Nancy Blackett passes Pin Mill, June 2017.
Photo: Bill Wallace-King.