Last Thursday saw two new members come along to Woolverstone Marina to visit Nancy Blackett and have a taster sail for a couple of hours on the River Orwell. After a brief introduction to Nancy’s main features and rig the passage plan was made, “That way and turn round after an hour, come back here”.

There was the slightest zephyr of wind but true to form Nancy Blackett rose to it and made a stately 1.5 knots downstream towards Levington under full sail. It was certainly peaceful!

At about 6.30 p.m. we docked back in our home berth and retired to the newly-renamed Wheelhouse Bar and Restaurant in the Marina. It had been a relaxing short cruise but the beer was very welcome nonetheless.

That same evening a family of other members arrived for an overnight stay on Nancy and a day sail the following day. After a supper of pizza and salad we settled down for the night but not until the children had had a good crawl around every corner of Nancy Blackett. Having read nearly all the Ransome books their knowledge was comprehensive.

Early on Friday morning we were greeted by heavy mist concealing the far bank of the River Orwell. However the evidence of blue sky above intimated that it would soon clear, so after breakfast we had a safety briefing and fitted life jackets before slipping out of Nancy’s berth into a clear day.

There was little breeze so the motor and tide helped us to Pin Mill where we raised full sail and made good speed to Levington. Turning the corner there was plenty of tacking practice until we emerged off Felixstowe, rounded Shotley Spit and set off up the Stour at four knots in a steady Force 3 and flat water.

Lunch was served while we enjoyed the view from Wrabness across to the Royal Hospital School and that evocative smell of the sea – seaweed and Essex mud. And of course grog.

Just before the tide turned we slipped the mooring, again under sail, back towards Felixstowe.

Throughout the day it had been sunny with a steady Southerly breeze until we reached the great Pin Mill wind hole, when the tide was our main source of propulsion. It was so peaceful we decided just to go with it as the sun set over the Orwell Bridge.

We couldn’t have had a more perfect day.

– Words and photo by Ian McGlynn