Planet Blue is owned by Paul Fitzsimons ( "Fitz" ) and specialises in live-aboard whale and dolphin watching holidays.
We charter yachts through The Moorings, an internationally recognised company that provide modern, fully equipped boats that are maintained to very high standards ensuring that we can cruise safely and enjoy a high level of comfort on our trips.
Our preferred yacht is the 51.5 exclusive which features 4 double cabins with en-suite heads and shower as well as 1 single cabin in the bow.
We take small groups, up to 9 people, which helps to foster a cosy camaraderie on board. The boat is skippered by Fitz and there is a cook who doubles as crew when required. In the event of illness there are 2 replacement skippers (John Banks and Joe McNab) either of whom can step in and command the vessel.
Our special relationship with The Moorings gives us an added flexibility in that we can charter a yacht to suit the size of the group wanting to travel. Four is the minimum and would involve a supplement of £150 per person on the quoted price. Where demand is sufficient (minimum 12 people) we will also charter a second boat allowing up to 18 people per trip.
What about single people?
Most yachts are designed with double cabins which creates a problem for single people. However, we usually have the single cabin mentioned above. Alternatively, we can match up same sex singles in a double cabin and there is no supplement. If you want to take a double cabin for yourself we charge a £350 supplement on top of the quoted price.
What about children?
Boats are small places and we are conscious that other people might find the energy of youth wearisome. Therefore we have designated certain trips as child friendly with a minimum age of 7 . We offer a 35% reduction on the full price for each child place up to the age of 16. Children are allocated their own berth but as sleeping arrangements can get tricky it is best to discuss each trip individually. We tend to build in more beach time on these trips to allow young legs to stretch.
Where we meet you
Planet Blue is not a package tour operator and as such your holiday with us begins at the marina ready to board the boat. We do, however, have an arrangement with our yacht charterers, The Moorings, whose travel arm organises flights and transfers for those who don't want to make their own arrangements. They offer the usual ABTA and ATOL protection. If you are interested in making use of their service we can provide further details.
Do I need to have any sailing experience?
No. The skipper and crew will take care of the operation of the yacht but if you are interested we'll be happy to teach you a little about sailing although in order to maximise our chances of getting close to the whales and dolphins we use the engine quite a bit. This also allows the foredeck to be used as an excellent viewing platform.
How much sailing experience do you have?
Fitz and the 2 skippers named above (one of whom may well be crew) all have Royal Yachting Association skipper qualifications as well as thousands of miles of sailing experience in England,Scotland,Wales, Portugal, Spain,Greece, the Caribbean and Mexico. We are also qualified first aiders.
How far from land do we go and do I need to worry about seasickness?
All our cruising areas are inshore so that we are never more than 2 or 3 miles from land. Many of our pictures demonstrate that we are often closer than this and each evening we seek sheltered bays in which to anchor.
Generally the whales are present during the months of finer weather and we can expect plenty of sunshine and calm seas so that on the whole seasickness is a worry that fails to materialise. You can of course bring tablets and they do work. In the event of bad weather our proximity to land allows us to take shelter quickly.
What about food and drink?
The price includes all food and soft drink on board the boat. We also stock local beer and spirits, allowing for a couple of alcoholic drinks a night in the price.
Wine can be expensive at some of our destinations and if you want us to stock some, then please indicate on the booking form how many bottles you will require, and numbers of white and/or red. We charge £8 per bottle.
Please remember though that boats are an intimate environment and that persistent drunkenness to the detriment of others will not be tolerated and such persons will be returned to the marina at their own expense. Something to date we have not had to do.
We genarally serve breakfast lunch and dinner on board although where suitable we will have a barbecue ashore. Please refer to individual trips for details of initial or final meals ashore which are at your own expense. There are also snacks which you can help yourself to in between meals.
Every effort is made to provide wholesome natural foods. We always buy fresh fish from the local fishermen for instance. In addition if we have sufficient demand we will try to coordinate a vegetarian only trip.
Breakfasts typically include fresh juices, tea and coffee, as well as cereals, porridge, honey on toast, poached eggs, fresh fruit with natural yoghurt, pastries and mushroom omelettes though not all on the same day. Lunch typically involves salads, sandwiches and some pasta.
Generally our busy days and the sunshine means that the main meal is in the evening and after an aperitif we sit down to share a roast or grilled fish/chicken or lasagne or some other delicious meal whilst we debate whether it was 500 or 1000 dolphins.
What should I bring?
Space on board for stowing rigid suitcases is limited so please try to use bags that can be easily compressed.
Good weather can be expected on all our trips so the usual summer clothes can be packed but remember the movement of the boat creates a cooling breeze and in the evenings it can get chilly so bring some warmer tops. Incidently, if your hat can be secured in some way it will save you losing it over the side as I usually do.
If you have binoculars bring them and if you don't I suggest it's worth buying a good pair (7 by 50 magnification are excellent). We will have various bird, fish, shell, cetacean and star guides on board so you don't need to bring your own.
Whale and dolphin lovers often have musical talents and on previous trips we have enjoyed some wonderful sessions. Last year Joe brought his saxophone and enchanted everyone as his tunes echoed around the canyons at sunset. So please feel free to bring an instument but if you play the double bass perhaps it would be better to bring a cd.
It's a good idea to bring a pair of neo-prene (wet suit material) shoes as they are ideal for hopping in and out of our motorboat when going ashore and dry quickly. The boats usually have an inverter which allows us to recharge camera and phone batteries but please check individual trips if such a facility is crucial to you.
The Moorings provide masks snorkels and fins (flippers) so you don't have to pack those bulky items unless you prefer to use your own. They also provide bedding and plenty of towels but you might want to bring a beach towel.
Can I sleep out under the stars?
Weather permitting you can but bring a sleeping bag as cabin bedding must stay put.
I'm concerned about the carbon footprint my flight makes.
If you visit www.climatecare.org they will calculate the effect and you can pay to neutralise it.
Do you respect the whales?
Yes. Each encounter is assessed at the time but, generally, we try to take a parallel course to the whales hoping that they will be curious about us and come closer to inspect the strange beings above. If it is felt that we are making the whales uncomfortable in any way we back off.
Finally, whilst we have always seen some cetaceans on previous trips we must point out that there are no guarantees in nature, and nor should there be, but we promise to do everything possible to transform your holiday into an unforgettable experience.
