You’ve probably seen Yorkshire Coast Boat Trips popping in and out of Whitby Harbour, in this interview, you will learn more about the people behind Yorkshire Coast Boat Trips and the trips they offer.
Lindsey Ebbs speaks with Yorkshire Coast Boat Trips to learn more about the trips they offer in this fascinating interview.
As boat trips go, this really isn’t a quick trip out to sea in the hope you might see a seal, dolphin, or whale. It’s more like a bespoke sea tour given by a Whitby couple, who have a huge depth and breadth of local knowledge and if the sea life is a little shy, then Ross will take you off to see something equally fascinating instead. Ross and his wife Laura decided to launch this new business in July 2020, in doing so, showcasing Whitby and Scarborough’s amazing shoreline, and wildlife alongside Ross’s unique sea experience as a fisherman.
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I interviewed Laura and Ross from this small family run business that delivers sea trips in such a personal way with incredible attention to detail, making any sea tour feel like it was customised just for you. I was so impressed, and I just thought this business would appeal to both locals who want to know more about where they live or visitors who would like a trip out for a few hours to enjoy more of our coastline
What made you think about creating this business?
Ross has been a skipper for the last 25 years in the fishing industry and due to Brexit, the export market, quotas and finally Covid, he had become very disheartened with it all. He has such a love of the sea and wanted to use his experience to create another business for us as a family. Covid was the catalyst, like other businesses, we instigated the change by taking a deep breath and started looking for boats!
What did you both do before creating the boat trip business?
Ross has always been a fisherman and I work as a holiday cottage quality advisor. We were school sweethearts and had gone to school together in Scarborough. We left school and went our separate ways, only to meet up (actually set up, 15 years later by Ross’s brother), we married and then had Elizabeth our daughter. Fishing was hard on our young family, and this prompted our decision to create a business that allows us more time together as a family, Elizabeth now eight is a great help onboard, cleaning away like a demon!
Is the type of boat important for the trips out to sea?
We searched for a long time for the right boat for us and finally bought a 5-year-old passenger ferry from the Isle of Jura in Scotland. The boat is a cabin rib with both indoor and outdoor seating. The chairs are very comfortable and designed for longer trips, inside is heated as it can be a lot colder than you think out at sea, even if the land is warm. We also needed the boat to react quickly if a sighting of whales or dolphins were nearby.
Where do your boat tours travel to?
Every day the boat shuttles between Whitby and Scarborough, this can be taken as a one-way trip or as a return journey. This enables our guests to bring their bikes or dogs on board and cycle or walk back or have a full day in each location and return on the boat. The trip is a learning experience in conservation, wildlife, and additional knowledge of the history of the coastal villages on the way.
We also offer a nature trip to see the seal colony and local birds nesting on the cliffs. Ross has such an interest in the local wildlife and he is very much a conservationist and very conscious of passing important local information onto the guests who travel with us. The local fishermen let us know if they have sighted any seals, dolphins or whales that would be of interest to our accompanying guests. The boat is small enough to be able to react instantly, giving the guests much more than what they had booked and expected.
We always comply with the Maritime trust guidance on how close we get to all the wildlife, ensuring that no distress is caused but we often notice that the seals and dolphins like to chase the boat and run close to it, which is clearly their choice.
Can anyone book your sea trips?
Yes, of course, We have a wide range of people booking, ranging from those who are on holiday who would like a day out, corporate trips, birthdays and anniversaries, school trips and even wedding parties. There are those who love bird watching or who are into coastal conservation/ erosion and its effect on the area. We adapt our tours to those who are travelling with us, even school homework projects
How many guests can you take with you on a trip?
The maximum is 12 people so is incredibly comfortable even when full, this means guests usually switch between inside and outside as they wish. We ensure all guests wear new lifejackets for their safety. We aim to put safety and comfort first with all our decisions.
Does the weather affect the boat trips?
Yes, the trips are always governed by the sea state, but we always know at least 48 hours before a trip, ensuring an easy decision-making process that hopefully does not cause a last-minute disappointment for our guests. Strangely the weather on land may not be the same as out at sea and conversely is true, so wet and windy weather on the land may be perfect sea trip weather!
The online booking system is very responsive, and issues refunds immediately at the touch of a button, we try to either move, refund or issue a credit if we are unable to sail. The safety of our guests is paramount, and Ross’s knowledge of the sea makes that much easier to enable that.
Do your boat trips go out all year?
No, we presently operate from Easter to October as the boat must come out of the water to be serviced and overhauled but we are considering winter weekend trips in the future, weather permitting, of course.
Do you have any further plans for the business?
Yes, most importantly, we will be fitting and installing a much-improved speaker system, adding formal information about the history and vista of the coastline as well as all the birds and wildlife we see. We are considering providing local food and drink hampers for private parties ensuring a bespoke sea trip with a picnic, but I am sure we will be coming up with more ideas when we get into the next season.
Yorkshire coast boat trips are found online at www.yorkshirecoastboattrips.co.uk and on social media, both Facebook and Instagram.
Check them out if you are thinking of coming on holiday to Whitby or to those of you who are lucky to live in Whitby, then this is a great way to celebrate any occasion.
Thank you to Lindsey Ebbs of Lindsey Ebbs Podiatry for this fascinating interview. You can read more of Lindsey’s interviews with local businesses here.
