The Story Behind the Photo

On Saturday, June 10th, 2006, 16 individuals in four teams set off from Liberty Yacht Club, Jersey City, in the New York Harbor, in the world’s first North Atlantic Ocean Rowing Race - the Shepherds Ocean Fours Rowing Race 2006. Not only was this the first North Atlantic Ocean rowing race but it was also the first ever to finish on the mainland of the United Kingdom.

Using identical 29ft. ocean rowing boats known as the Woodvale Fours class, these four teams raced on equal terms across 3100nm route to Falmouth, UK. They competed for the greatest endurance accolade available- to be the first to cross the finish line of the most awesome event, in the fastest possible time. Along the way the crews would face many obstacles, including huge North Atlantic swells the height of a house, winds reaching storm Force 10 and container ships the size of a block of flats in one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.

The University of Scouting coordinator’s Jeff Lockhart and Mark Hoppes greeted us and made sure all was going well. Sea Scout Commodore Tom Ross, and his wife, Lori were in the booth next to us and were very helpful throughout the event.

The success in an event of this magnitude requires a combination of skills including teamwork, navigation, weather and routing skills, physical and mental strength and to a certain degree an element of luck.

But before they left for this courageous voyage, Mary Prusko, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarist, and other members from Flotilla 10-8, Division 10 1SR, gave the rowing boats a vessel safety check. The Vessel Safety Check is a complimentary examination that is available to any recreational boater. “A VSC is done as a courtesy and with no risk to the boater–you won’t be in trouble if discrepancies are found,” said BoatU.S. Foundation Assistant Director of Boating Safety, Ted Sensenbrenner.

Auxiliarist Mary Prusko, a qualified vessel examiner, explaining safety equipment to Brad Vickers, skipper of the James Robert Hanssen. This Woodvale Fours Class boat is getting ready to depart on a trip across the Atlantic Ocean on June 10, 2005.

A fellow Auxiliarist, Helen Glass, snapped a picture of Ms. Prusko shaking hands with Brad Vickers, skipper of the James Robert Hanssen who just passed the VSC and was awarded a VSC decal. The James Robert Hanssen won the race but the story doesn’t end there.

In 2007, Helen Glass submitted her photo into the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Public Affairs Photography Contest and it won 2nd place. The two were elated that the photo won. Then unbeknownst to either Auxiliarist, 6 years later, the photo was picked to be a feature photograph on the National 2012 VSC Poster.

When Mary Prusko was shown the new poster she exclaimed “Hey, That’s me!” And this is the story behind the photo.

This Woodvale Fours Class boat just received a vessel safety check as evidenced by the decal affixed to the bow of the boat.