We look after Nancy Blackett, the favourite yacht of "Swallows and Amazons" author Arthur Ransome.
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Keswick’s youth theatre performs ‘Swallows and Armenians’

A performance inspired by the Anglo-Armenian origins of the Altouynans, models of the Walkers in Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons”, will be on stage in Keswick this Sunday (17th February) at 4pm. Performed by Young Company, Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake youth group, “Swallows and Armenians” was inspired by a book of short stories by Cumbria-based […]

In photos: Swallows and Amazons on stage in Orkney

Last weekend the Deerness Drama Group performed the Helen Edmundson adapation of Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” in Deerness Hall, Orkney. Some photos from the production are below. Click on the Facebook icon [f] to see the originals.

Nancy Blackett’s priming progress

Further progress has been made with the priming of Nancy Blackett’s hull as part of her ongoing winter work, reports Neil Brooks. All underwater surfaces have been cleaned, sanded and coated with primer, while many of the small pits over fastenings have additionally been filled with red lead, as shown in the photos below. Several more […]

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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.