“We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea” Celebration
From Topsail Charters
Published in 1937, “We Didn’t Mean To Go So Sea” is the seventh book in Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons series of children’s books. In this book, the Walker children embark on their most exciting adventure. The yacht they were staying on, anchored peacefully at Pin Mill on the River Orwell, drifted in the fog out into the North Sea and a dramatic crossing to Holland followed. The yacht Goblin, was based on Ransome’s own boat Nancy Blackett which Ransome sailed across to Flushing by the same route as part of his research for the book. Nancy Blackett stills sails the Orwell and local rivers today.
As part of the 80th anniversary of the publication, the Nancy Blackett will be leaving Pin Mill at mid-day on the 4th June and set off on a journey to recreate the voyage the children took…