The start of Nancy Blackett's new season will be featured on the BBC's Countryfile programme on Sunday 14th April (7pm, BBC1). Nancy Blackett's relaunch for the start of the 2013 season was filmed on a chilly Good Friday at Robertson's Boatyard in Woodbridge, Suffolk, including a short sail on the River Deben amongst some unseasonal snow showers.

Countryfile presenter Matt Baker also interviewed Peter Willis, Chairman of the Nancy Blackett Trust, skipper Bryan Bonser and Mike Illingworth, Managing Director of Robertson's Boatyard.

Despite the early launch, Nancy Blackett's fitting-out weekend will go ahead as planned on April 13th & 14th, with the BBC broadcast appropriately rounding it off.

Nancy Blackett was Arthur Ransome's favourite boat, and was bought thanks to the success of his novel "Swallows and Amazons" and following titles, and named after its heroine. The star of "We Didn't Mean to Go Sea", she continues to bring the works of Arthur Ransome to new generations.

Photo: Bryan Bonser
Mike Illingworth of Robertsons, standing, and presenter Matt Baker sitting on cabin roof aboard Nancy as she waits for the tide to come up and launch her.