For everyone who came to the Nancy Blackett lift-out weekend hoping, quite reasonably, to see Nancy being lifted out, our apologies. It’s honestly never occurred to us before, but it doesn't work like that.

The aim of the weekend is to mark the end of the sailing season, clear Nancy ready for her winter lay-up and generally enjoy getting together, all of which we did, under a bright East Anglian sky, consuming quantities of cake and later enjoying a convivial dinner at the Cherry Tree.

The actual lift-out is the first job undertaken by our boatyard, Robertsons of Woodbridge as part of Nancy's winter care programme. It came a few days later in the rain, and in the workaday environs of Robertson’s boatyard.

Nancy, her mast removed, was gently manoeuvred into slings and then drawn up the slipway onto the hardstanding. She was due for a survey the following day, and the recommendations resulting from this will be incorporated into the programme of winter work.

Fitting-out, when Nancy re-enters service for the summer season, has already been given a date: April 16th 2011 – see you there!