Last Saturday saw the completion of Nancy Blackett’s fitting-out following her winter refit work at Robertson’s Boatyard in Woodbridge.

Nancy Blackett in Woodbridge Tidemill, 21st March 2019 by Simon Jackson

She had already been moved to the Tidemill Yacht Harbour, and a team of volunteers set to work to put aboard all the equipment, books, manuals, charts, bunk cushions and so on that had been stored ashore, plus fresh supplies of larder stores for the coming season. The work was followed by a celebration start-of-season dinner at the nearby Cherry Tree pub.

The winter refit has included the removal of all the accumulated anti-fouling, down to the bare wood of the hull (which proved to be in good condition) and painting new layers of primer and anti-fouling – nearly all carried out by a team of volunteer members.

On Sunday, once the tide was high enough, Nancy Blackett slipped out of the marina and began her voyage down the River Deben and round to the Orwell to her summer base at Woolverstone. Sailing plans this year include a passage to the western Solent for the Arthur Ransome Society’s AGM, the Old Gaffers Association’s Yarmouth Gaffers Regatta at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, and our own AGM at Swanwick on the River Hamble.

Nancy Blackett was unable to get out of the River Deben today (Monday) as planned, due to adverse weather, so the latest plan is to move on from Ramsholt tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday) when the forecast looks much better.

– Peter Willis, with additional reporting by John Smith.

Nancy Blackett passes Waldringfield with skipper Clive Fisher, Roger Sturge and Mike Hilton, 24th March 2019. Photo by Peter Willis.