A representative from the U.S. Coast Guard (Portland) came to Vashon last Saturday to present islander Flora Briggs with a letter of acknowledging her actions in guiding a rowing shell — and eight rowers — to safety in October.
The Vashon Island Rowing Club was competing at the Portland Fall Classic regatta, when a cruise ship came close to hitting the boat she was guiding as a coxswain.
Briggs, 15, a freshman at Vashon High School and a novice rower, directed the rowers to turn and then stop the shell as the larger vessel came closer and closer to them.
After she received the commendation, Briggs said she had been confused about why the large boat was on the course during the competition. But she sounded calm about what could have turned into a tragedy.
“I was kind of scared, but I was confident I could steer the boat out of the way,” she said.
The boys in the shell with her, all novice rowers, had their backs to the cruise ship as it approached and were surprised when it came into view. And then they carried on.
“Once the boat passed, I was back on track for let’s go race ahead still,” she said.
Her boat came in sixth out of nine.
The captain of the Portland Spirit, the cruise vessel involved in the incident, has since had his merchant mariner credentials suspended for three months, and was involved — and disciplined for — a similar incident 2 years ago.
Flora Briggs’ mother, Mary Margaret Briggs, expressed appreciation for the Coast Guard’s efforts.
“We were particularly touched by the fact that despite the U.S. government shut down the night before the ceremony, Lieutenant Michael Tappan made the trip up to Vashon on his own time, and expense, to make the presentation,” she said in an recent email.
She added that he extended an invitation to the members of the junior crew team to go on a ride-along on a boat with Seattle-based Coast Guard this summer.
The ceremony took place at Camp Burton during the club’s annual meeting. Club board member Kit Gruver said Briggs received the award to a standing ovation from those present.
