Following the recent relaxation of the Government’s Coronavirus ‘Lockdown’ Rules, and the resumption of work in Robertson’s Boatyard, Nancy Blackett is now scheduled to be relaunched on 2nd June.

Stuart Morris rinses down Nancy Blackett. Photo: Robin Sadler.

Her fitting-out will then be completed and she will be delivered to her summer berth at Woolverstone Marina. However under present circumstances, there is still no immediate prospect of resuming member sailing.

The continuing restrictions also mean the Nancy Blackett Trust’s AGM, planned for 20th June, has had to be postponed. The new provisional date is 19th September; if this proves not to be possible, we are currently considering alternative arrangements.

Preparations for Nancy Blackett’s 2020 spring launch were interrupted when Government lockdown rules necessitated Robertson’s yard as well as all other boat yards in this area to close, even to owners wanting to carry on fitting-out maintenance.

This was closely followed by the legal closure of Harwich Harbour (Stour and Orwell rivers) to all pleasure boats. Our particular concern for Nancy Blackett, in common with all wooden boats laid up for too long, is that the hull planks begin to dry out, meaning the hull would leak when put back into the water.

Robertson’s professional advice was that a limited extension of laying up on the hard would not be a problem – and they were able to arrange the lower hull to be hosed down on a regular basis – but that launching in June would be advisable to preserve the hull in a good seaworthy watertight condition and prevent significant deterioration.

Fitting-out will be done in line with current Government guidelines by a minimalist team of Neil Brooks and Tim Everson, followed by removal to Woolverstone under command of Stuart Morris and Robin Sadler. In both procedures teams will be following as closely as possible official distancing and preventive health requirements.