Two of Nancy Blackett's newest fans experienced the joy of sailing her last Saturday, carefully observed by at least one of the Orwell's resident seals.

In the capable hands of John Smith and Andy Shuttleworth, Eric Maddison and daughter Manako took the ebb tide down to Collimer Point, enjoyed lunch while moored to a buoy, and then sailed slowly back to Woolverstone on the following ebb tide, with the watchful seal appearing near Pin Mill. For Manako, in particular, it was all over too quickly.

Both Eric, who has started reading an Arthur Ransome biography, and Manako, who is reading Swallows and Amazon stories, are now very much looking forward to their next sail on Nancy Blackett.