The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services - 2007

© Seagull Trust Cruises
April 2009

Our Boats.

Over the 30 years since the start of the Branch they have operated four different boats, initially the St John Crusader which was eventually joined by the Janet Telford and these are described on the History page. Currently two boats are in operation, the Mackay Seagull, so named after our Founder, and the St John Crusader II.

All of the Seagull Trust Cruises boats can carry a maximum of 12 passengers including wheel chairs. They are equiped with a lift to allow for boarding assistance; they have have heated cabins and toilet facilities suitable for people with disabilities.

As in all walks of life qualifications and certification of ability are becoming more and more a requirement of operation and insurance and so to this end Seagull Trust Cruises has instituted a training and certification scheme for our boat skippers under the auspices of the Royal Yachting Association. Under a recent E. U. Directive it is now a requirement that all of our skippers have to hold a qualification approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Some of our skippers are professional ship captains and seamen, many of them holding recognised Master Mariner Certificates of Competence. However, the majority of our volunteers require formal training and this is provided by a qualified RYA Inland Waters Helmsmans Instructor.