It might be hard to be believe, but Arthur Ransome’s Nancy Blackett celebrated her 86th anniversary yesterday (30th March), receiving lots of birthday wishes on social media.

Born in 1931 at Hillyards boatyard in Littlehampton, Sussex, she was first registered as a British Ship, under her original name Spindrift, on 30th March. Her actual launch date is lost in the mists of time and Hillyard’s notoriously non-existent record-keeping. Owned by Seymour Tuely, she was subsequently sold back to Hillyards, and then on to Paget Bowyer, who renamed her Electron and kept her in Poole Harbour.

In 1934 she was bought by Arthur Ransome for £525 and renamed Nancy Blackett. He sailed her back (via Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, to seek shelter from a full gale) to Pin Mill. 1936 saw Ransome sail her to Vlissingen (Flushing) as research for his new book, inspired by Nancy Blackett, “We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea”, in which she would appear as the Goblin. The book was published the following year.

At the end of 1938 Ransome sold Nancy Blackett, having ordered his next boat, Selina King. Over the following fifty years, she passed through the hands of a further five owners, before Mike Rines completed his purchase of Nancy Blackett in 1988, having discovered her in near-derelict condition in Scarborough Harbour. He returned her to the River Orwell for restoration.

Following that restoration, she was later sold to another private owner, who, in turn, put her up for sale again in 1996. An appeal to Arthur Ransome fans succeeded, and the Nancy Blackett Trust was established to purchase and preserve her. The purchase was completed in June 1997, and the Trust has enabled Nancy Blackett to have many more sailing adventures ever since, keeping her available for the enjoyment of all Arthur Ransome fans. 

You can find out more on our History page and read about Nancy Blackett’s further adventures on our Timeline.

If you would like the chance to sail Nancy Blackett please see our Sailing page. You will need to join the Nancy Blackett Trust before you sail if you are not already a member.

You can also make a donation to the Trust’s 20th Anniversary Appeal or purchase some souvenirs from the Nancy Blackett Shop.