We look after Nancy Blackett, the favourite yacht of "Swallows and Amazons" author Arthur Ransome.
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Nancy Blackett’s Winter Work – Stripping the Hull

Arthur Ransome’s favourite yacht, Nancy Blackett, has had her hull partly stripped as part of her annual winter maintenance. The initial work was undertaken at Robertson’s boatyard in Woodbridge by the Nancy Blackett Trust’s Boat Manager Neil Brooks, who commented that it “took one man hour with a scraper, but it was pretty hard going. […]

In photos: a very high tide at Pin Mill

An exceptionally high tide was seen earlier today at Pin Mill, famous for appearing in Arthur Ransome’s “We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea“. Anthony Cullen and Mark Sanderson captured the scene outside the Butt and Oyster and along the foreshore to Harry King’s boatbuilders below. Click on the Facebook logos ([f]) to go the […]

Swallows and Amazons films now on BBC iPlayer

Both film adaptations of Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” are currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer. The 1974 film is available to watch here until Thursday 31st January, while the 2016 film is available to watch here until Monday 14th January. The behind-the-scenes story of the 1974 film is available in the book “The Making […]

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Arthur Ransome’s East Coast

  • Download the Arthur Ransome Walking Trail Map (pdf)
  • See the Selina King Exhibition at Pin Mill

    • Get involved

  • Donate to our 20th Anniversary Appeal
  • Join the Nancy Blackett Trust
  • Sail on Nancy Blackett
  • Volunteer with the Nancy Blackett Trust

    • 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.

    You can keep updated with e-mail alerts by clicking here.

    Nancy Blackett passes Pin Mill, June 2017.
    Photo: Bill Wallace-King.