We preserve the Nancy Blackett, the favourite yacht of "Swallows and Amazons" author Arthur Ransome, and celebrate Arthur Ransome's East Coast stories.

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After the Storm, the Sailors’ Return

For our final Nancy Blackett dispatch this week, able-seaman Sophie Neville writes: “This morning all was quiet in Zeeland, where the thunder, lightning and high winds had passed. “All was well with Nancy Blackett and her crew, who later returned safely to Middleburg after sailing up the Veerse Meer against Force 5 winds. Having reefed later […]

A Fair Wind to Wolphaartsdijk

Nancy Blackett and her crew were able to do some sailing today, as skipper Ian McGlynn recounts: “We had a good sail today from Wemeldinge to the Zandkreeksluis, and then to Wolphaartsdijk, where we are riding out F6-plus winds. We go back to Middelburg tomorrow. The crew is all happy.” And able-seaman Sophie Neville also […]

More Zeeland Life

Is Nancy Blackett’s crew whistling for a wind? Skipper Ian McGlynn writes: “We had no wind this afternoon, but spent a pleasant morning exploring Zierikzee. We are now in Wemeldinge after motoring most of the way. “It was very hot and humid today as yesterday. The crew’s spirits are good – we just want to […]

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Arthur Ransome’s East Coast

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    • 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 at Woolverstone, May 2009.
    Credit: I. Jacobson.