Host Molly Taylor interviews Captain Judy Helmey of Miss Judy Charters on the Ships of the Sea podcast recorded in the Ships of the Sea Maritime Musuem located in the historic William Scarbrough House and Gardens about becoming a charter captain through sea school, time on the water, and mastering safety, responsibility, and people skills.

Helmey reflects on 61 years fishing - starting on her father’s boat as a child - and describes how the job requires roles from counselor to nurse, plus pairing customers with the right captain now that she runs the company. She shares navigation and seamanship stories, Gulf Stream distances and her past pace of 250 trips a year, learning storms with modern equipment, and extraordinary encounters including waterspouts/tornadoes, a submarine snagging her gear, and Navy live-fire zones.

She discusses sexism, varied clientele, famous passengers, reading birds to find wahoo, and her father’s influence, Savannah charter history, and conducting burials at sea, including sinking caskets.

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FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Podcast Introduction

00:42 Becoming a Captain

01:47 Best Parts of Charter Life

04:05 Running the Business Today

05:58 Knowing the Waters

08:05 Family Roots on the Island

10:03 Learning to Drive Young

13:13 Seasickness and Customer Care

15:41 Weather and Water Spouts

19:54 Safety and Seasoning

20:38 Submarine Snags Gear

22:01 Live Fire Hot Zone

24:42 Sexism on the Dock

27:15 Handling Every Client

28:37 Famous Faces Aboard

30:12 Birds Lead to Wahoo

33:15 Glitter Chum Trick

35:04 Dad’s Hustle Origins

37:19 Burials at Sea Finale