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.
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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