Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

US Sailor Michael Reppy - Sailing to stop dolphin slaughter

by Erik Simonson on 8 Nov 2010
Sailing to Stop The Slaughter - Michael Reppy Erik Simonson http://www.pressure-drop.us">www.pressure-drop.us http://http://www.pressure-drop.us">www.pressure-drop.us
At age 65, most people look forward to a nice quiet retirement, relaxing vactions and a less frantic existence. Marin County’s Michael Reppy, a physical therapist by day, seeks to conquer something that has avoided him for much of his adult life.



1. The singlehanded record from SF to Tokyo Japan
2. Seeing an end to the massacre of thousands of dolphins and small whales in a small cove in Taiji Japan in an annual 'Drive Fishery'.

The Record for the course, approximately 5,700 NM was first set by Eric Taberly in 1969 aboard his 'state of the art' 35’ monohull 'Pen Duick', 39 Days. 15 Hours and 44 minutes. The record stayed true until SF Native Peter Hogg drove his 40’ Trimaran ' Aotea' in 34 Days, 6 hours and change in 1992.

As a youth, growing up in the Southern California coastal town of Oxnard, Michael read about the feats of these great ocean racers of the 60’s and attempted to emulate them, building his own Malibu style outrigger which he would cruise to the Channel Islands with his high school buddies. After graduation from college and building some equity, Michael contracted the build of the 42’ John Shuttleworth designed trimaran Damiana, in 1984. He raced her to a third in the 1987 Multihull Transpac and then a third in the Singlehanded Transatlantic in 1988.

In 1990, Michael commissioned Shuttleworth to design a more modern carbon fiber racing trimaran the 30’ Nai’a, Hawaiian for dolphin, representing Earth Island Institutes ' Save the Dolphin Project. By 1996 after lengthening the tri to 36’ He set off to beat Hoggs 1992 record, and was well on the way to doing just that when she pitch poled just short of Tokyo.

By 2000, Michael had obtained Warren Luhrs 60’s mono-hull ' Thursdays Child' and readied her for a second attempt. Ironically a chance meeting with some large cetaceans ended the quest after his rudder was broken in a collision with said behemoths in the darkness of night.

In 2001, his second go aboard Thursday Child end short again after 36 days, this time thanks to fickle winds approaching the finish. A fourth attempt was schedule then a torn knee cartilage put the quest on the back burner. Michael now in his 60’s realized manhandling the 60’ Thursday’s Child was a bit much and donated her to a Southern California charity foundation.

In 2006 Michael purchased the all carbon 43’ Tony Grainger trimaran, then named Spirit of Emu. She was refitted and re-launched in 1997 in San Juan Island and rechristened ' Dolphin Spirit' in honor of her mission, to set the record and bring awareness of th plight of the dolphins of Japan and world wide.

In 1991, Michael had seen a covert film produced by Sam LaBudde, which first exposed the horror of the Drive Fishing Industry happening secretly on the tourist Island of Taiji Japan, where thousands of dolphins and small whales are rounded up into a cove and slaughtered brutally for reasons Westerners find hard to understand, the lucky ones sold off into captivity for the entertainment industry.

Michael’s goal is to utilize the record attempt and hopeful success to bring much needed attention to the current plight of the marine mammals currently being rounded up in Japan and elsewhere, ultimately ceasing the practice forever.

There is a benefit concert scheduled for January 15th at the Magic Juju Boathouse in San Rafael featuring Rambling Jack Elliot if you are in the area and want to rock on for Dolphins!





http://www.savejapandolphins.org/
http://www.dolphinspirit.org/drivefishery.html
http://www.dolphinspirit.org/mercury.html
http://www.dolphinspirit.org/opposition.html

www.pressure-drop.us

Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025Maritimo 2023 S600 FOOTERBoat Books Australia FOOTER

Related Articles

Scandinavian Gold Cup at Sopot, Poland Day 1
A slow start with very little wind The Scandinavian Gold Cup opened Thursday in Sopot, Poland, with seven 5.5 Metres competing for this historic and iconic trophy that dates back to 1922. Unfortunately, there was not enough wind to even complete one race.
Posted on 5 Jun
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 3
A six-hour bake on the water Veteran and multi-Olympic race officer Sulis was clear at the morning briefing, "Our priority is to get three races for the 49er so they can progress to the gold fleet."
Posted on 5 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 3
Platoon Aviation turn up the heat but don't dent American Magic Quantum Racing's lead After a disappointing first regatta of the season when they finished in an uncharacteristic last position in Saint-Tropez, the fortunes of the German flagged 2023 52 SUPER SERIES overall champions Platoon Aviation seem to have turned for the better.
Posted on 5 Jun
Diverse international fleet for 5th AEGEAN 600
The race start is a little over 1 month away In a sign that this newest of the world's 600-mile classic offshore races has reached maturity, organizers from the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club are pleased to announce yet another large international fleet will be assembled for the 2025 AEGEAN 600.
Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup.
Posted on 5 Jun
SailGP: Media Conference concludes in New York
The media conference ahead of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix has concluded, without any speci The media conference ahead of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix has concluded, without any special points being revealed, save for Brazil lending a crew member to Germany.
Posted on 5 Jun
A decade of pushing the boundaries at A+T
Celebrating 10 years of the world's best yacht instruments 2025 marks a decade of pushing the boundaries of quality and customer service in the global yachting industry for A+T Instruments.
Posted on 5 Jun
Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds Take the Helm
As Co-Owners of the 'BONDS Flying Roos' Australia's SailGP Team Today Australia's three-time SailGP champions have unveiled a new identity as well as two new co-owners - Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds - who join Driver and CEO Tom Slingsby in leading the freshly rebranded BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team.
Posted on 5 Jun
Should SailGP ditch the wings?
As SailGP resumes in New York this weekend, we ask the question As SailGP resumes in New York this weekend, we ask the question of whether the F50's solid wingsails should be ditched and replaced instead with twin-skin mainsails, in a similar way to what is used on the AC75 and AC40 of the America's Cup.
Posted on 5 Jun
CYCA and RFBYC announce partnership
To host Australia's premier match racing events The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club are pleased to announce a joint partnership between the two Clubs to host Australia's premier match racing events in January each year.
Posted on 5 Jun