Team Coast Guard Racecar

Two days before NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick drove the Team Coast Guard Chevy to a third place Busch Series finish at Daytona Beach this summer, his crew and other Richard Childress racing crew members got a close-up view of Team Coast Guard in action.

Auxiliary Coxswain Art Poole and his Flotilla 48 (New Smyrna Beach, FL) crew of Ed Goodell and Lee Brock provided Auxiliary vessel “Voyager,” a 33 foot Chris Craft flybridge cruiser to serve as a press platform for the event.

Team Coast Guard is the primary sponsor for the car number “21” Chevy, and members of both the Coast Guard and the Childress racing team felt it was only proper that they get a taste of the Coast Guard in action. For Childress Crew Chief Shane Wilson, that taste included more than one sip of salt water, as demonstrations of water rescues demand a victim, and someone had to (literally) take the plunge. For Wilson, it was an experience of a lifetime.

Voyager Stands by near 47

After Station Ponce commander, Senior Chief Newman Cantrell and PA1 Donnie Brzuska briefed the participants, all hands headed out to sea on the station’s 47-foot motor life boat, a rigid hull inflatable rescue boat (RHIB) and the Auxiliary vessel “Voyager.” Their destination was the CG Cutter “Shrike,” which was standing by about one-half mile offshore.

After media representatives and the Childress team members, except Wilson, had been transferred to the “Shrike,” it was time for Crew Chief Wilson to hit the water. His dive into the deep was given a “seven” (out of a possible 10).

For the crew of the 47, fishing crew chief Wilson out of the water was the type of thing they practice constantly, and it showed. Before you could say “Coast Guard Racing Team” Wilson was back on the 47, at least for the moment.

With a CG HH65 Dolphin helicopter that had come down from Air Station Savannah for the exercise lurking in the background, it was time for phase two of the demonstration. A grinning crew chief Wilson hit the briny blue again, along with a rescue swimmer from the HH65 helicopter as a safety backup.

Art Poole at help of Voyager 1

In moments, Lt. Robin Stoltz had the helicopter hovering near Wilson, and a rescue swimmer leapt from the helicopter into the water. A rescue basket was lowered to the water, and Wilson was placed in the basket by the rescue swimmer and lifted to safety in the helicopter. After that, both rescue swimmers were subsequently hoisted onboard the helicopter. Crew Chief Wilson was then lowered from the helicopter to the deck of the cutter.

It was all in a day’s work for the crews of the helicopter and boats; something they practice regularly, and all too often, do for real with boaters in distress.

During the entire exercise, Auxiliary vessel “Voyager” and its seasoned crew (all coxswains) stood by, ready to assist in any way needed.

Back at CG Station Ponce, the Racing Team was given a life ring from one of the station’s 47’ motor life boats and a banner, both signed by the Station Ponce Coast Guardsmen. It was a fitting end to a memorable day for the racing team, and the team they represent, Team Coast Guard.