Boating and writing about it—

Gillian Outerbridge is a modern day adventurer, a sailor/boater, writer, photographer, and a self-reliant grandmother, whose travels take her to many fascinating places. She is always accompanied by Tucker, her beloved terrier companion, and rarely anyone else when travelling.

When asked what motivates her to sail alone, she says: “I am single, that’s why I travel by boat alone. However, I have friends who sometimes join me for a few days on my trips.”

“Tucker loves being on the boat with me. I think she considers it a comfortable mobile kennel.

“She’s obsessed with fish and spends hours with her head hanging off the boat or dock.

“I don’t think I’d have done the trips without her. She is great company.”

Seemingly in excellent health Ms Outerbridge says while fitness is important, she is basically lazy and her daily routine is Tucker dragging her out for long walks.

The pair has had numerous adventures on Dart<$> which Ms Outerbridge describes as a 20ft sailboat with 9.9 horsepower Yamaha outboard engine.

“I shipped her up and back to New Jersey on the Oleander<$>. Since the controlling height in the inland waterway system is 15ft I left her mast, rigging and sails in Bermuda.

“But I had a short red mast that flew burgees, flags and an emergency jib! I could lay the mast down to go under very low bridges,” she explained.

Ms Outerbridge had this vision of sailing around as an adult from about 1962 after reading numerous inspirational sailing books. One particular book, “The Journeying Moon” by E. Bradford truly left her with the romantic notion of sailing. The author had a small boat and sailed through the inland waterways of Europe. As a journalist and photographer she came to Bermuda to earn money for her sailing adventures but a simple trip to the camera store changed her course.

“I went to the Bermudiana Hotel shop to buy a camera. George Outerbridge was the charming salesman and he had a boat.

“However the camera was faulty so I took it back to the store, and got it sorted out with an invite to the movies.”

A year later they were married and had three children: Tracy, Alison and Ben.

Life went happily along and Ms Outerbridge continued to learn about sailing, boating and a tranquil life in Bermuda. Unfortunately her marriage ended in divorce after many years.

Still she had this insatiable dream for sailing which was very much alive. Her first and only boat, Dart<$> has been a sweet companion who has made it all possible for her — that is setting out boating and exploring numerous travel destinations in Canada and the US.

“My voyage up the Hudson River to Canada was very exciting, she said, and being able to dock in the heart of Ottawa was a memorable moment.

“One of the prettiest destinations encountered was the Rideau Waterway from Kingston, Ontario to Montreal.

“And the most interesting was being carried on the Big Chute marine railway from the Trent Severn waterway to Georgian Bay.” Her advice to other female adventurers is: “Just go for it — what are you waiting for?” She says to focus on your goals and have the confidence to conquer them.

“I encourage other women to live their dreams and not leave it too late!

“My friends Lin and Larry Pardey, world famous sailors say: ‘go small, go simple, go now.’ “I believe that! People tell me I’m lucky to have had these experiences. I’d say it’s not luck, it’s a choice, and anyone can make that choice.

“Her boating adventures have been a key source of excitement and accomplishment as she has written a book scheduled to appear later this year. She will be giving lectures in Bermuda on the book and her travel discoveries.

In the next decade she would like to travel the west coast of Canada and the inland waterways of Europe. Most likely she will produce another interesting travel book. When on travels she keeps a daily journal. Ms Outerbridge, an accomplished woman, is passionate about life! She has created a niche based on her writing and travelling experiences as well as her 16 years of sailing around Bermuda and abroad.