Meet Tuesdays at 10 Speakers: Harbor Pilots Robert and William Blake
Tuesdays at 10 is a new men’s association in Rye, focused on catering to men ages 55+ in Rye who are retired or transitioning to retirement. Each month the group organizes a speaker program. MyRye.com will introduce you to each speaker, preview what attendees might hear and tell you about their connection to Rye and the group.
Today meet brothers and harbor pilots Robert and William (Bill) Blake.
MyRye: When are you speaking at Tuesdays at 10am?
Both: Tuesday, November 12, 2024; Whitby Castle
What’s your day job?
Bill: NY harbor pilot responsible for piloting ships in and out of NY harbor.
Give us the gist of what we will hear Tuesday:
Bill: We plan to discuss the history of NY pilots, training to become a pilot and the experience of being a pilot.
Robert: Our association guides ships in and out of NY harbor day and night in all types of weather conditions.
Who talked you into doing this?
Bill: Peter Urbanczyk.
Robert: My brother William Blake
As a speaker, what are a few of your preferences?
Bill:
| Select from: | Your Pick: |
| Best drink to have at your speaker’s podium? | n/a |
| Preferred microphone: lavalier, handheld, or on the podium | n/a |
| Rate your gesticulation (1 = stiff as a board, 10 = I’m made of silly putty) | n/a |
| Powerpoint – yes or no? | keynote |
| Questions afterwards – yes or no? | n/a |
Robert:
| Select from: | Your Pick: |
| Best drink to have at your speaker’s podium? | Water |
| Preferred microphone: lavalier, handheld, or on the podium | Handheld |
| Rate your gesticulation (1 = stiff as a board, 10 = I’m made of silly putty) | 5 |
| Powerpoint – yes or no? | yes |
| Questions afterwards – yes or no? | yes |
Tell us about you:
How would your friends and family describe you in one word?
Robert: outgoing
Summarize your career in five sentences or less.
Bill: Have been piloting in NY for 34 years including training. We are tasked with navigating container ships, oil tankers and passenger ships when they arrive and depart NY harbor.
(VIDEO, below: Robert J. Blake, Jr. describes what it is like to be a harbor pilot.)
What is the best professional advice you dispense?
Bill: Choose a career you enjoy and take pride in.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why, and who would you take with you?
Robert: Traveling to Italy with my wife.
Where do you live?
Bill: Harrison.
Robert: I live in the Purchase section of Harrison.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Bill: Enjoy golf, tennis and boating.
Robert: Ride motorcycles and spend time with my granddaughters.
Thank you Bill and Robert!
Read Bill Blake’s bio:
Bill was born and raised in Eastchester to a father that was also a NY Sandy Hook Pilot. Being a harbor pilot was always the profession that he envisioned for his life. Graduating from Emory College in 1987 with a BBA in Finance, he worked on yachts after college in the Caribbean and has since been with the Sandy Hook Pilots for 34 years. In the course of his career, Bill has piloted thousands of ships which include container vessels, oil tankers, and passenger ships many of which exceed 1200 feet in length. Within the pilot association, Bill served as a Trustee and participated on varying committees. Outside of the association, Bill worked for Briartek, Inc., which outfits the US Navy and various foreign Navies with man overboard systems. During the early development of the technology, Bill served on the RTCM committee to develop manufacturing standards for this technology which has since translated to competitive and recreational sailing.
Bill raised his 24-year-old daughter, Hannah, in Rye and currently resides in Harrison with his wonderful wife, Margi, where they both enjoy boating, fishing, and playing golf every opportunity possible.
Read Robert Blake’s bio:
Bob was born and raised in Eastchester, NY, growing up the son of a New York Sandy Hook Pilot. Bob has a degree in secondary education; however, he changed direction early on in his career. He began his apprenticeship with the NY Sandy Hook Pilots Association in 1979 and came up through the hawse pipe to be fully licensed in 1986. He has been with the NY Sandy Hook Pilot Association for 45 plus years.
His career as a pilot has been exciting and rewarding. He has piloted thousands of ships in and out of the ports of NY and NJ in all kinds of weather. Of interest, Bob piloted the aircraft carrier, John F. Kennedy, into the harbor on her final call into NY and most recently was the senior Pilot on the USS Cole, during Fleet Week in 2023. Bob has served on the Executive and Finance committees of the Association throughout the years, always keeping current maritime business expectations in mind to maintain the NY Sandy Hook Pilot Association at the forefront of the industry standards.
Bob currently lives in Purchase, NY, with his wife, where they raised two sons and are proud grandparents of two granddaughters. In his spare time, he likes to travel and take long trips on his motorcycles.
