Captain Emma's blog: Water sampling patrol from Ossining to Brooklyn
August 25, 2016
Emma Garschagen
Riverkeeper intern, sailing instructor, Captain, and Hudson River resident Emma Garschagen writes about her experiences at the helm of our patrol boat, the R. Ian Fletcher, in her blog Waterbased. Read and subscribe to her blog and follow her on Instagram @captain__emma.
Here is an excerpt from her post, Riverkeeper Boat Log: Water Sampling Patrol from Ossining to Brooklyn.
Piloting the Fletcher through New York Harbor reminded me of its how beauty and chaotic energy demand a captain’s unwavering attention.
If you turn away to watch a seagull or snap a photo for a second too long, you could easily find yourself in the path of a high speed ferry barreling out of the East River.
If you spend a minute daydreaming as the sails whirl by your port side, you could miss the fisherman to starboard as he returns home with his catch.
The harbor hums with motors and halyards; it keeps you alert and even anxious when you’re at the helm, but you enjoy it anyways.
