Nancy Blackett on the VI Cruise

The sailing yacht "Nancy Blackett" was named after author Arthur Ransome's favourite character, the adventurous and irrepressible leader of the Amazon Pirates in his "Swallows and Amazons" books. This particular vessel was a favourite amongst his various cruising yachts.

EAST was privileged to welcome the Nancy Blackett as she took part in the recent VI cruise, and EAST has received this letter from Peter Willis, chairman of the Nancy Blackett Trust.

On behalf of the Nancy Blackett Trust, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation following Nancy Blackett’s recent participation in your VI Cruise weekend.

Our crew were made to feel completely at home, and we greatly appreciated the care and effort that went into finding a suitable berth and helping her return safely in challenging weather conditions. The team reported that the atmosphere throughout the weekend—full of joy, enthusiasm, and camaraderie—was utterly infectious and will remain a real highlight of their season.

It was a privilege for Nancy Blackett to be part of such a meaningful event. We are proud to support the incredible work EAST does in making sailing accessible to blind and visually impaired sailors, and we’re delighted that our historic vessel could contribute in a small way to your mission. While our involvement was specifically with the VI Cruise, we also want to acknowledge the wider work you do in supporting disabled sailors—your commitment to inclusive sailing is truly admirable.

Your kind donation will help us continue to maintain and operate Nancy Blackett, keeping her sailing and sharing her story with new generations. We very much hope that the relationship between our two organisations will continue to grow and flourish in the years ahead.

With warmest thanks and best wishes,

Peter Willis, Chair NBT

For further details of the Nancy Blackett please see www.nancyblackett.org

The Nancy Blackett sailing on the River Orwell.