YOUR SKIPPERS
Adrian Thomas has been at sea all his life – which is some time! Previously he worked for Trinity House, Marazion Ferries and The Lifeboats. He started at Trinity House in 1977, leaving in 2004 to run Mermaid Pleasure Trips full-time with his wife Vanessa. He is now a crew member on Penlee Lifeboat when not Skippering Mermaid II.
Having lived on St Michael’s Mount, Adrian is very knowledgeable about its history and Mount’s Bay generally. He takes great pleasure in telling stories of the Mount and various parts of the fantastic Cornish coastline, while finding you marine wildlife en route.
Jason Woodward grew up in Sennen, where from a young age he was either in or on the sea! Jason climbed up the ladder at the RNLI to become a lifeboat mechanic, helmsman, navigator, casualty care and much more. For a good few years Jason worked on a commercial ring netter in Mounts Bay so knows all the good fishing marks.
OUR BOATS
Mermaid II was built in 1991 and is a Cygnus Cyfish. She cruises at 10 – 11 knots with the power to go 18 knots. She is 33ft long and 14ft beam with 2.6ft draft. Her decks are sealed and clear so there is plenty of room for people and/or equipment. The Mermaid has full marine mod cons including 2 VHF radios and 1 ICOM radio, 1 GPS and 1 GPS plotter, 1 echo sounder, 1 radar, a compass and a tanoid system. There are two bunks on board and a WC. Mermaid II is licensed to carry 35 passengers for cruising during the summer. During the winter we are licensed for 10 (plus two crew).
In 2022 'MV Vanessa Jane' joined the fleet and she takes the majority of the fishing and bespoke trips carrying 12 passengers. She is a Aquabell Trojan 33ft long. Vanessa Jane is strong, fast and stable with a Nanni 6.43 TDI engine and bow thruster. Like the Mermaid II, she carries all relevant safety equipement and up to date radios and navigation equipement. There is also a WC on board.
