Joseph Ruffini joined the auxiliary on September 13 , 2012 , after attending a boater safety class offered by flotilla 014-02-06 Monmouth Beach , New Jersey . Joe became boat crew qualified and offered the Naval War College as a facility for his Flotilla . His favorite event is participating in the Parade of Ships during Fleet Week .
Ruffini shared with his family that “ this will be my final bid , I ’ m all in and if the price goes up it wasn ’ t meant to be .” Joe Ruffini played his final hand and countered with a $ 43,000 offer . His adversary finally backed down and Joe Ruffini won his prize ! The conflict was over and a sense of relief fell over the Ruffini family .
WITHIN WEEKS of the auction conclusion , Ruffini , and his crew , headed to Newport , Rhode Island , with ambitions of returning home with a seaworthy vessel that would someday serve as a flotilla facility . Ruffini , having never inspected the vessel in person , nervously realized that he could have just purchased a costly floating heap of junk !
Upon arrival in Newport , Ruffini was met by a naval officer who represented the auction on behalf of the Navy . The naval officer asked Ruffini what his intentions were with the cu�er . Ruffini advised that he was going to “ refurbish and bring the vessel back to service under the flags of the United States Coast Guard and Auxiliary ”. To Ruffini ’ s surprise , the Naval War College was intact needing minor repairs . Ruffini and his crew boarded the cu�er and began their journey home from Newport RI to Oceanport NJ . The trip took eighteen hours traveling at ten knots with an average outdoor temperature of 43 degrees Fahrenheit . The crew navigated the Long Island Sound , continued through the East River in NY and , finally , across the Raritan Bay in NJ .
Since that day in late November 2015 , when Ruffini took ownership of the Naval War College , he has never looked back at his investment . He said the vessel requires constant sanding , varnishing and maintenance to ensure the essence of its stature . “ It ’ s worth every hour I spend in upkeep ” said Ruffini . For Joe Ruffini , his efforts reflect his passion and life-long dream of owning a truly special piece of historic Americana .
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