Nancy Blackett’s epic summer voyage along the South Coast is under way, as one of the highlights of what is turning out to be a very special year, following the record-breaking circumnavigation by patron Ellen MacArthur.

Trafalgar 200 and the International Festival of the Sea
Nancy has been invited to participate in the International Fleet Review in the Solent on June 28th, including the sailpast of 300 small craft, as part of the celebrations commemorating the 200th anniversary of our victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, prior to being on display at the International Festival of the Sea in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, from June 30th to July 3rd, where she will be welcoming visitors at Basin No. 2, together with an exhibition and souvenir stall operated by the Nancy Blackett Trust.

Historic Hillyards
On the way down to the Solent, Nancy Blackett will be commemorating a historic event of her own – by visiting her place of birth at the David Hillyard boatyard in Littlehampton, where she was launched in 1931 under the name of ‘Spindrift’. Nancy will be open to visitors at Hillyard’s from June 21st to 22nd.

Fabulous Falmouth
In July, Nancy’s voyage will continue further westwards, to her ultimate destination of Falmouth, where she is expected to stay until the middle of August.

Falmouth is where, in the books, the Swallows learnt to sail, where Jim Brading and Uncle Bob once took the Goblin, and, of course, where earlier this year, Ellen MacArthur began and finished her round-the-world-record.

Falmouth is also the home of the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, opened since Nancy’s last visit there in 1988. The Nancy Blackett has been invited to tie up at its pontoon, where Ellen’s B&Q recently moored, and aims to be there for Falmouth Week and the Falmouth Classics, via its chain of feeder races, the Plymouth and Fowey Classics.

More Information
• For a more detailed itinerary, please see Events in 2005.
• For details of how to book a sailing trip or overnight stay on Nancy, please see Sail or Stay on the Nancy Blackett.