We look after Nancy Blackett, the favourite yacht of "Swallows and Amazons" author Arthur Ransome.
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Swallows and Amazons events for the rest of the summer and beyond

With two weeks of the summer holidays still to go, there are still plenty of Swallows and Amazons activities left to do, some of which continue into the autumn or beyond. For theatre-goers, Swallows and Amazons the musical is on stage at York’s Theatre Royal until August 24th, while the Windermere Jetty Museum has Swallows […]

Obituary: Hugh Brogan, Arthur Ransome’s biographer

Hugh Brogan, who died on 26th July at the age of 83, was a distinguished historian – Emeritus Professor at Essex University – but will be remembered outside academia chiefly for his role as the biographer of Arthur Ransome, writes Peter Willis. It was a task that occupied the best part of a decade, initiated […]

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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.