Welcome to Sapphire Pelagics

2010 Schedule

June, July and early September Monday & Thursday evenings
August Monday & Friday evenings (to tie in with weekend Birder Special Pelagics)
September & October TBA according to weather and demand
Time Depart 5.00 pm with return no later than 10.30 pm
Cost £25, pay on board
Cancellation Although trips are weather dependant very few are cancelled
Note Occasional daytime trips are offered mainly September & October
Enquiries Contact Joe via his mobile

Sapphire Skipper: Joe Pender

Contact details

Telphone: (01720) 422751
Mobile: 07776204631
e-mail: joesapphire@aol.com

Information
Joe Pender is the skipper of MV Sapphire and is vastly experienced having operated short-range pelagic trips out of Scilly for over 15 years. Since 2000 Joe has focused his trips on seabirding and a shark tagging program. Joe has become a proficient seabirder (and photographer) in his own right. However, experienced local birders are on board all ‘Sapphire Pelagics’ and help with spotting, identification, and mixing and delivering chum.

‘Sapphire Pelagics’ are famous nationwide for the many rare and scarce seabirds that have been logged. Highly prized rarities that made national news are Fea’s Petrel, Scopoli’s Shearwater, Madeiran Storm-petrel, and Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel. Wilson’s Storm-petrel is seen regularly in season concentrated in July and August. Autumn months produce Cory’s and Great Shearwaters. Many other quality species are seen including Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull, Leach’s Storm-petrel, and Grey Phalarope depending on time of year. Trips are occasionally frequented by North American birders since we see European Storm-petrels every single trip during the breeding season, Great Skuas very regular from July, and the globally threatened Balearic Shearwater occasionally in autumn.

MV Sapphire is a broad vehicle that is relatively stable and offers plenty of seating with lots of room for clear observation and photography. It has an open deck. There is a toilet onboard. Full specifications follow:

Type: Kingfisher K50 (GRP semi-displacement hull)

Dimensions: 15m (50ft) length, 5m (16'6ft) beam [1m draft]

Propulsion: 2 x 135hp Perkins Sabre diesel engines

Navigation Equipment
Garmin 12" combined radar/plotter
Garmin 10" Chart Plotter
Furuno Eco Sounder
icom Gmdss VHF Radio

Safety Equipment
14 man Solas Liferaft
5 x Float free rafts able to take up to 96 People
3 x Afff Fire Extinguishers
1 x CO2 Fire Extinguisher
6 x Parachute Rockets
2 x Hand Held Flares
2 x Orange Smoke Flares

Common Dolphins © Joe Pender. Views can be stunning; note ships rail, bottom right.

Blue Shark © Joe Pender. This 117lb shark remains one of the largest caught off Scilly. Note the impressive pectoral fin