The Nancy Blackett

[Hwyl]

I just bought the January issue of Classic Boat. http://www.classicboat.co.uk/cb/home.htm (the website shows a later edition) There is an article in there about one of Arthur Ransome's boats (he of Swallows and Amazons fame) the Nancy Blackett. The boat is owned by a trust. Apparently it is the boat that the Goblin of "we didn't mean to got to sea" is based on. Arthur Ransome sailed his boat from the East coast of England to Holland to do research for the story. The article is about a re creation of that passage (or possibly the passage made by the children in the book).
The original book of the series "Swallows and Amazons" is almost part of my being so it's difficult to surpass. But I would say that "We din't mean to go to sea" (which I did not read until I was of adult vintage) is my second favourite (I vacillate as i write this). Every decision that the children make in the book is seamanlike, they get into an adventure because of it, but see themselves through.
Anyway, back to the article, it has some stunning pictures of the Nancy Blackett herself and one of Ransome's dinghy "Coch y Bonddhu" (that's a Celtic language it may be Breton, if it were Welsh it might be translated as "Red and Black head"), the recreated voyage was apparently windless and the article does not go into much depth by my standards, but judging by the foregoing, by my standards the article could be booklength.

There is an interesting footnote; I'll paraphrase it "Translations of WDMTGTS have been made in six languages. Oddly it has never been translated into Dutch. The next project for someone perhaps"

[Sam F]

Hwyl, You probably already know about this site but perhaps other Ransome fans haven't seen it: TARS (http://www.arthur-ransome.org/ar/)

http://www.sndc.demon.co.uk/graphics/willis41.jpg

[Ian G Wright]

"Coch y Bonddhu", the boat, was named after "Coch y Bonddhu" the fly fishing fly which is mainly red and black,,,,,,,, so there you are.
There is a meeting in May this year of the Arthur Ransome Soc near Pin Mill and Nancy Blackett, Peter Duck and Lottie Blossom, three of Ransomes boats will attend. With luck I hope to get Patience there too. Anyone else?

IanW.

[Mike Field]

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There's a 360º "virtual view" of Nancy Blackett below decks to download (http://www.woodenboatfittings.com.au./ransome/nancyblackett.mov) here.
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[ 02-11-2003, 05:29 AM: Message edited by: Mike Field ]

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Mirelle intends to go along to provide some authentic period background for Nancy Blackett, Lottie Blossom and Peter Duck. Come to think of it she is laid up afloat next door to Lottie right now.

Lapwing cannot be there because, whilst she was a real boat, she was sunk in a collision in the Channel years ago.

I suppose that Firefly, the family boat of the Clay family to whom the book is dedicated (Jim Brading is modelled on the young Jim Clay) might be there too

[Hwyl]

I'll be in the U.K. in May, Hmmm. Unfortunately I'll be in the North West. Thanks for the information. Mike, your link of the 360 degree view does not work foor me. I still like the Coch y Bonddhu. Her lug seems as long as her mast, all the luggers I've seen, have fairly short lugs.
Nancy Blackett seems an well proprtioned boat, most Hillyards that i've seen have been more of the Motor Sailer style.

[Ian G Wright]

Originally posted by Hwyl:
Nancy Blackett seems an well proprtioned boat, most Hillyards that i've seen have been more of the Motor Sailer style.There was a rumour that Nancy was not a "real" Hilliard, just finished at Hilliards yard. No idea if it's true or not,,,,,, though he did build other untypical boats, Iskra springs to mind.

IanW.

[Mike Field]

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Sorry, Hwy1. Wrong URL. Try it again now.
Mike
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[John R Smith]

Most of the Hillyards I have seen down here, and we have quite a few of the smaller 3 to 4 tonners, look to my eyes to be very traditional, like Nancy Blackett herself. They also seem to have an astonishing survival rate - according to the Hillyard Owner's Association, of the 800 boats built by the yard, 600 have been traced and survive. Hillyard Assoc (http://www.hillyardyachts.ukf.net/home.htm)

John

[Hwyl]

quote:
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Originally posted by Hwyl:
Nancy Blackett seems a well proprtioned boat, most Hillyards that i've seen have been more of the Motor Sailer style.
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Thanks John for giving me the link to the Hillyard site

I've been thinking about Hillyards all day. I want to apologise to Hillyard lovers and David Hillyard himself. When I thought back, my entire prejudice against them is based on an unsubstanciated remark in a boatyard,that I heard in the 70's. Someone was talking about a Hillyard that was for sale as being no good "because they had to use the engine to make her go about". I seem to remember that every time I saw her sailing she was being sailed without her bowsprit, which would explain her difficulty in stays (or at least in filling in on the new tack). Hillyard made practical boats that were financially within the reach of a broad section of people, for me not applaud that and somewhat aspire to the same ethos, would make me a hypocrite. So once again I apologise to all who read my earlier posting.

[ 02-11-2003, 10:32 PM: Message edited by: Hwyl ]