THE GOBLIN

MAIN SAIL STAY SAIL BOW

CABIN COCKPIT TILLER STERN
DECK
We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea is a well known book by Arthur
Ransome and retold by Ralph Mowat is about four children who when
left alone on a friends boat at anchor at Pin Mill on the river Orwell, drag
their anchor and drift out to sea. In a strengthening wind they decide it is
better to keep sailing down wind rather than turn back, they next
morning they arrive at Flushing on the Dutch coast. An exciting
adventure! But they were lucky to have Holland so close on the other side
of the North Sea.
SUMMARY
John,Roger, Susan and Titty help Jim Brading to tie a rope to the buoy In return he invites
them to sail aboard Goblin. Mother agrees provided that they stay within the estuary of the
rivers Orwell and Stour, do not pass the Beach End buoy at the mouth of the rivers, and do
not go out to sea. These conditions are imposed because of the imminent arrival of their
father, a Navy, who is expected to return by ferry at any time from Holland. The children
agree to these conditions. Unfortunately, on the second morning Goblin runs out of
petrol because Jim forgets to fill up before they start. So Jim rows ashore to buy some
petrol and promises to return in ten minutes but does not return. An unexpected bank of
fog drifts over the river, and the Goblin is without her captain. Some hours later, after
hearing the anchor drag in the fog, the Walkers realise that the tide has risen, the anchor
chain is now too short, and they are drifting down river. While John tries to put out more
chain, John loses the anchor, and the yacht drifts out beyond Beach End into the North
Sea. Aboard the drifting boat, John decides that it is safer to hoist the sails and go farther
out to sea rather than the risk of being wrecked in the fog. They put about in the night to
return to the river, but find that sailing against the wind is impossible, so run eastward
with the wind.
The Goblin sails east through the night in hazardous conditions, being nearly run
down as the navigation lights are out of paraffin. John has to leave Susan at the
helm while he reefs the mainsail. He is almost swept overboard, but succeeds in
his objective. At dawn next morning, John persuades Susan to continue to the
nearest port rather than trying to return to Harwich. They rescue a kitten floating
on a packing-case. They find themselves approaching an unknown coast; it is the
Southern Netherlands. Jim has warned them about longshore sharks who might
claim salvage if asked for help. But they see a pilot ship, and pick up a Dutch pilot
who later learns cross the North Sea in the storm. He decides to help the children
and it is free of charge. They arrive safely in Flushing. A ferry is leaving to
Harwich their father sees John and shouts to him as he is leaving on a ferry to
Harwich. Their father leaves the ferry just in time and returns to help them sail
the Goblin back. Susan is terribly sad about their mother who will be worrying
about them so their father sends a telegram from Harwich to her. On arriving in
England, the Goblin and its crew are reunited with their mother and with Jim
Brading, who is looking for his missing yacht. Mrs Walker feels angry because the
children go to Harwich to meet their father. Jim had been unconscious in
hospital for two days, suffering from concussion after being involved in a collision
with a bus. Roger keeps telling their mother that they met Father in Holland.
Hence, Father has to tell their mother about the mishap and the children are sure
that Mother will understand that they didn't mean to go to sea.