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SEPT-DEC 1998 |
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October 1998:
San
Diego Refit Report
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September 1998: VISIT TO CORKY (SHAMU) |
THURSDAY'S CHILD, first sailboat to break the 1854 clippership
record around Cape Horn, New York to San Francisco, is being outfitted
in Driscoll's Boatyard, Mission Bay, for an upcoming attempt at the Single-handed
Transpacific Sailing Record in support of freedom for three captive orca
whales in Japan. Local San Diego boat-builder Bob Dixon is managing the
work on THURSDAY'S CHILD.
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| Thursday’s Child sat 13’ up in the air on her keel in Driscoll’s
Boatyard, as boat builders Bob Dixon and Scott Shaffer pulled
with all they were worth on the long wrench handle trying to loosen the
6 keel bolt nuts.
Location: Driscoll's Boatyard, 1500 Quivera Way, Mission Bay. |
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| Status report:
1) Carbon reinforced bulkhead ready for the new 12’ mainsheet track. 2) New Yanmar engine installed. 3) Rig down and servicing began. 4) Hull prepped and first coat of paint on. 5) Keel trim tab glassed in place and faired. 6) New batteries in and rewiring begun. 7) New GPS and 4 new solar panels purchased. 8) Instruments all serviced and replacement parts in, with upgrade of Satcom communications system. |
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Scott and carbon reinforcing under new mainsheet track |
Many thanks to Lori Freiburger, local “FREE CORKY” activist for her help in sanding the boat and steady support. |
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 Corky in her tank at Sea World. |
We entered Sea World in San Diego and headed straight for the
orca tanks where we found Corky alone in the observation tank swimming
slow circles. At times she would roll over and swim on her back and
at times reversed directions – all with eyes closed in a smooth trace-like
state. She had obviously learned these survival skills after 28 years
in jail.
But Corky was no space-case! A Sea World employee dressed in “Shamu” costume came in and Corky immediately made a bee-line to the window to check out the “imposter”. We were all awed by this display of awareness and curiosity.
For more information on Corky, please click here.
In all, it was a gut-wrenching experience of the stark reality of man’s fascination and awe of orcas, and Sea World’s exploitation to create “Shamu” their number one attraction, complete with Disney-like cartoon “Shamus”. How the visitors, and especially the children, loved Corky; but do they know the reality of lives of stress, sickness, separation from their families, and early death for “Shamu”?
I am moved to work harder for Corky’s freedom, and to end the slavery of all captive cetaceans. We suggest Sea World instead use high tech “virtual reality” exhibits of orcas from the wild, and do real education of true orca behavior, not "circus trick" shows.
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E-mail: mreppy@tchild.org
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