At the end of his piece to camera for the ITV Anglia news story on Nancy Blackett at 90, Mike Rines, who rescued and restored her over 40 years ago to exactly as she was when Ransome owned her, confessed “actually I’d love to have another sail on her.”

We can take a hint. And so it was that, less than three weeks later, on the hottest day of the year (up until then) Skipper Neil Brooks, Mate Simon Jackson and president-cum-cabin-boy Peter Willis welcomed Mike aboard for a short sail down the River Orwell.

Mike Rines, Peter Willis and Neil Brooks on Nancy Blackett, 16th Jun 2021. Photo by Simon Jackson.

Mike was pleased with the general condition of Nancy Blackett, and very happy to note that the compass was still inside the cockpit ‘porthole’ – he told us that he had sourced it from a Norwegian lifeboat as part of his determination to provide Nancy with appropriate period equipment.

He held the helm for a short while as we made our way under sail past Pin Mill, through the moorings of Butterman’s Bay into the clearer waters of Long Reach before turning for home. It couldn’t have been a nicer day to be on the river, and Mike later wrote to thank the crew, adding, “I was very impressed by the superb shape Nancy is in, and impressed also by the way you were not satisfied until you had her trimmed to perfection. Nancy is clearly in very good hands.”

The story of how Mike Rines rescued and restored Nancy Blackett is told by Peter Willis in his book Good Little Ship: Arthur Ransome, Nancy Blackett and the Goblin, available from the Nancy Blackett Shop.

If you would like the chance to sail Nancy Blackett on Arthur Ransome’s East Coast then you should become a member of the Nancy Blackett Trust – further details are here.