Wild Cat

Introduction

The Wild Cat is a schooner invented by the Swallows, Amazons and Captain Flint for the story of Peter Duck.  

Description

Wild Cat is a Baltic Trading Schooner, which has been converted by Captain Flint so that he can take the Swallows and Amazons to sea. She has a green hull and cream coloured sails. Captain Flint has converted her hold to provide a large saloon, plus four two-berth cabins. Her forepeak includes a cage for Roger's monkey, plus ample space for nautical stores. In Missee Lee, this space also includes two large petrol tanks: these are not directly connected to the engine underneath the deckhouse aft, so petrol has to be transferred by hand.

The Wild Cat's foredeck has a capstan, a forehatch and a sampson post. Further aft there are skylights over the saloon, together with sufficient deck space for Swallow (in Peter Duck) and for both Swallow and Amazon (in Missee Lee). The deckhouse has a galley forward and a cabin aft, equipped with two bunks for Captain Flint and Peter Duck. The main saloon companionway is postioned between the skylights and the decknouse, whilst it is possible to use a hatch in the deckhouse or a gap behind the companionway to reach the engine. The Wild Cat is steered by a wheel positioned aft of the deckhouse.

Her two masts carry a mainsail and foresail respectively, each with a boom and gaff. She can also carry two top sails and has three headsails: working forewards these are the staysail, jib and flying jib.

It is interesting to note that many of the descriptions, drawings and plans of the Wild Cat imply that she has a round stern. However, as Jim Andrews (Mixed Moss, 1999) points out, Ransome clearly describes her stern as being square (Peter Duck, Chapter 4) when Black Jake rows underneath it.  

Ownership

The Wild Cat belongs to Captain Flint. 

Wild Cat appears in
Peter Duck, Missee Lee.

Factual Inspiration

No specific role models. However, it is likely that Ransome would have seen many Baltic schooners during his time living in the Baltic States and sailing Racundra.  

What Happened to the "Real" Wild Cat?

Many of these traditional Baltic trading vessels have, inevitably rotted away or been broken up. But a number do survive. Although ketch rigged, the Queen Galadriel, owned and operated by the Cirdan Sailing Trust does give an impression of what a schooner like the Wild Cat would have looked like.

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