The major refurbishment of Arthur Ransome’s Nancy Blackett – now in its third winter – is continuing at Harry King’s Pin Mill boatyard.

Currently work is focused on the interior of the bow area where removal of the ‘heads’ (toilet) – which is being replaced – enables the team to reach parts of the interior that are normally inaccessible. Wooden battens are being removed, refurbished and replaced as required. This entails access from outside the hull, hence the alarming-looking rows of holes, which will all be filled and repainted in due course.

Other planned work includes replacement of the calorifier and revarnishing of the cockpit area.

Plans for the summer include celebration of the 90th anniversary of Arthur Ransome’s North Sea passage to Holland in Nancy Blackett as research for writing We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea, in which she appears as the Goblin.

More details to come later.