Tales from the bridge

Boat captain and author Mary Jacobs will take you on her amazing journey from cannery worker to the captain's chair of a commercial fishing vessel at Newport Public Library this Wednesday, June 17.

Jacobs’ memoir, “She Takes the Helm” chronicles her rise through the ranks of Alaska's commercial fishing industry, an occupation long dominated by men. The book follows her path from an uninspiring cannery job to becoming a fishing boat captain leading an all-woman crew.

Drawn to Alaska in search of adventure, Jacobs discovered a passion for life on the water after taking a job aboard a fishing vessel. Determined to command her own boat despite repeated setbacks and barriers, she steadily built her skills and experience while raising a family and working some of Alaska's most demanding fisheries.

“She Takes the Helm” recounts the challenges, dangers and rewards of commercial fishing while offering a firsthand account of breaking gender barriers in a traditionally male profession.

Jacobs grew up in Massachusetts and spent summers in Malibu, where she learned to sail and dreamed of crossing the Pacific Ocean. After leaving the University of California, Berkeley, in 1971, she moved to Alaska and eventually built a career that saw her purchase increasingly larger and more seaworthy fishing boats while working as a skipper. She now lives in Anacortes, Washington, where she spends her time gardening, hiking and writing.

Wednesday's presentation begins at 5 pm at Newport Public Library, located at 35 NW Nye Street. For more information, go to newportlibrary.org or call 541-265-2153.