Voyage of the Capricorn Lady

Dear Readers,

Hundreds of guests spent precious days aboard our boats, the 40’ Newporter Ketch Capricorn, the 55’ Trumpy Capricorn Mistress, and the sweetest vessel of all, the 71’ Trumpy Capricorn Lady. They were part of our lives as we cruised the waters of the Virgin Islands hosting charter friends from around the world. Folks from almost every country enjoyed our beautiful vessels, friendly hospitality, and delicious food. They laughed at Captain Dan’s jokes, and usually returned several times to savor the beautiful island world where we wandered from one tranquil harbour to another. Now I hope you will enjoy reading about the love and adventures we shared, as my two books are now available in both paperback and hardcover.

Readers expecting a light hearted read about charters and chartering will find that and more in my books as I share hilarious stories about guests, crews, colorful island characters and events, but my books carry a deeper message. Dan and I left families and friends behind when we sailed from our lives in Central Florida in the mid 1970s, and the books explain what happened to send us off to live on the sea for almost twenty five years.

I invite you to travel with me though the pages of my life from the silver sands and warm waters of the Caribbean Sea to the rugged Oregon coast where Dan stood his final watch. I have written a very personal and revealing story about my life with Dan as I embark on a new phase of adventure as a Capricorn Lady, learning how to be a new independent woman.

My books will appeal to anyone who loves boating, snorkeling, dining, sailing, island societies, cooking, and all kinds of adventure. Anyone considering a career in the charter industry will find these books full of information about the history and evolvement of this interesting business as it grew and changed through the years. They may inspire you to leave the traditional world behind to sail the seas with paying guests, and they may show you exactly why this life is not for everyone. Sharing a small space with total strangers is a challenge that only a few can achieve with ease and grace.

Captain Dan T. Gilman III was one of the most charming and professional charter operators in the Caribbean for many years, and I was lucky to be the woman by his side. I hope you will read and enjoy my books as I remember happy days cruising with Dan, our crews, and our guests.

Judi Gilman