This year’s programme of events starts with the traditional anti-fouling weekend at Robertson’s yard, Woodbridge, from Saturday 21st March. The following weekend is for fitting out at Tide Mill Marina, Woodbridge, and finally sailing Nancy back to Woolverstone on Sunday 29 March. Contact Judy Taylor to book in for meals for both weekends.
April sees the Old Gaffers Association Easter Rally from 10th – 13th, based at Shotley Marina while Nancy Blackett’s summer will get properly under way with three consecutive weekends of activity in May and June:
May has Nancy available to TARS and NBT members from 16th – 31st, based at either Woolverstone or Shotley. The May dates coincide with both the TARS AGM (22nd – 25th) and the NBT AGM (30th at Pin Mill). Our AGM, which returns to the Pin Mill Sailing Club, coincides with the 20th anniversary (yes, that long!) of Mike Rines’ famous dinner at the Butt & Oyster to celebrate Nancy’s restoration. The list of Ransome alumni at that event was impressive, and we hope to have some of them back with us in May.
As Nancy will be at both AGMs, and we hope to take as many as possible on short trips, we are making her available during both the preceding week and the following week (half-term) for TARS and NBT members who will be staying on in the area and would like a somewhat longer sail. This should ease pressure on the main busy days.
For June there is a weekend cruise to ‘Secret Water’ to enjoy the OGA Swallows & Amazons Weekend with the Round the Island dinghy race (5th – 7th), the following weekend being a cruise to Brightlingsea for the OGA Rally (12th – 15th).
The Swamazons event, celebrating its 10th anniversary, includes the traditional dinghy race round Swallow (aka Horsey) Island. We already award the trophy for the overall winner; this year, we’re adding a trophy (with a copy of “Secret Water”) for the Junior helm. There will also e camping available for dinghy sailors attending.
July/August has the Summer Cruise to Holland planned, three parts to this: voyage there (22nd – 26th July), cruising inland Dutch waters, and more cruising with return passage.
Later in August is the OGA East Coast Classics, Rivers Deben, Orwell and Stour (16th – 22nd), a racing and social week.
September includes a new event, the St Kath’s Rally, part of the Thames River Festival (12th – 13th).