34 FOGHORN FOGHORN FOCUS you the ropes, offering guidance and advice. Many mari- ners have mentors throughout their career who can share the wisdom gained from a lifetime on the water to help the upcoming generation build the confidence and knowledge necessary for a successful career in the industry. Daigle recognized the many mentors she’s had throughout her journey from starting in the industry to today work- ing as captain. She especially thanked her original trainer, describing him as a rock in her early days in the industry. “He taught me how to take the stress of this industry with excitement and tenacity.” Even the best mentor can’t fully prepare someone for all that they may experience and feel in a crisis. Years of train- ing and drilling meant it was second nature to know what to do that June day, and Daigle was able to act without hesitation, successfully leading the rescue of a man in the water. The training also allowed her to manage her instinct to leave the pilot house and assist hands on. Daigle knew that once the man was on board, her duty was to keep the boat safely on the makeshift dock and to maintain contact with the emergency services on their way. “We had a line on what appeared to be a concrete bollard,” Daigle explained, “but I would never trust something completely unless I had tested it previously.” She split her throttles, accordingly, resolving to stay close by should anything fail. She described it as no easy task not to leave the pilot house and help comfort the man in some small way. That “affected me deeply,” she said. “I knew what I needed to do as a cap- tain, but it conflicted with what I wanted to do as a person. It’s not something I anticipated when dealing with a situa- tion like that.” Her training, the countless drills done as a team, and her years of experience all enable Daigle to recognize but set aside her feelings so that she could stay at her post, focused on the duties that would most effectively assist her crew
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