John Sergeant, respected news broadcaster and President of the Arthur Ransome Society, recently enjoyed a sail on Ransome’s own Nancy Blackett, now restored and sailing on the River Orwell.

Neil Brooks, John Sergeant, and Peter Willis on Nancy Blackett, 15th July 2025. Photo by Robin Sadler.

He described it as “an unforgettable experience”, and was delighted to helm her on a passage which, accompanied by NBT President Peter Wills, Chairman-elect Robin Sadler and Boat Manager Neil Brooks, took her down-river past Pin Mill and Levington (where Ransome lived when he owned her in the 1930s) and then back again with a following wind and tide that saw her touch 7 knots over ground.

John Sergeant and Robin Sadler on Nancy Blackett, 15th July 2025. Photo by Peter Willis.

Thanking the crew for a “marvellous trip’ he added it had inspired him to settle down to re-read We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea, in which Nancy Blackett appears as Goblin.

Peter Willis, John Sergeant, and Neil Brooks aboard Nancy Blackett, 15th July 2025. Photo by Robin Sadler.

You can also have the chance to sail on Nancy Blackett by joining the Nancy Blackett Trust, and you can buy We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea as a hardback, paperback or audiobook from the Nancy Blackett Shop.

John Sergeant aboard Nancy Blackett, 15th July 2025. Photo by Peter Willis.