Our vessel for all trips is MV Sapphire. There is plenty of seating space and a toilet. The deck is uncovered.
What to wear
British
weather is unpredictable. June-August generally is fairly settled and
mild, but can be cool, wet and windy. September and October generally
is unsettled, but can be warm and becalmed. Whichever is the case,
conditions at sea compared to those on land are accentuated; cool
becomes cold, whilst hot and sunny becomes roasting. The sun is
particularly strong off Scilly with unpolluted air, so it is important
to avoid becoming irradiated on a sunny day at sea with sun rays also
reflecting off the sea surface. Many trips run in the evening when it
becomes cool, even when conditions are fair. On some trips we may
experience sea spray.Therefore
we recommend that you come prepared. Make sure you have warm clothing
and waterproofs including footwear. Layering is a good idea so that you
can adjust to the conditions as they change over the course of a trip.
Make sure your footwear is comfortable since you may stand for long
periods. Ideally footwear should have grip on the soles to prevent
slipping if the deck gets wet. Pack a cap or hat, sunscreen, and
sunglasses. Food and drink
Bring
along plenty to drink, especially for full day pelagic trips. You may
bring along modest amounts of alcohol. Also bring sufficient quantities
of food, enough for the duration of the trip. Remember that you will be
on a moving vessel with other passengers so for example mixing salads
and sauces and pouring champagne into tall glasses is not a good idea.
Please note that it will be too late to purchase food in town after
evening pelagic trips.
Smoking
Smoking is permitted though we ask smokers to respect non-smokers by smoking away and ideally downwind from other passengers.
Seasickness
If
you think you might be susceptible to seasickness, then we recommend
that you err on the side of caution and take your preferred remedy well
before you get on board. Consult your pharmacist for professional
advice. Experienced pelagic goers often recommend a good night’s sleep
the night before the trip, a good breakfast or lunch depending on the
start time of the trip, frequent snacking throughout the trip, and most
of all a positive attitude.
Optics
Binoculars
are essential. Telescopes are not permitted because they consume too
much space and in any case are useless given the motion at sea. Cameras
are encouraged. Good stills can be achieved with a telephoto lens
300-400 mm in focal length. Shutter speeds of 1/1000 second or higher
are necessary for truly sharp photos of seabirds in motion. An ISO
rating of 200 or more on your digital camera may be necessary. Even if
you do not have a professional lens it may still be possible to get
some photos of the seabirds and other marine life that we encounter.
Good video can be achieved with even modest priced cameras but you will
need 10x-12x zoom for reasonable sized images. Stronger zooms can
become counter-productive yielding shaky images since everything is in
motion, including you. If the subject comes close to the vessel, then
resist trying to get images large in the frame. On the television at
home they will look ugly and normally very shaky. Bring a dark filter
for pale birds in sunlight.