Welcome to Dolphin Spirit

My quest is breaking the solo sailing record from San Francisco to Tokyo in dedication to ending the world’s largest dolphin slaughter—over 20,000 killed annually in Japan. In three previous attempts, I just missed the record. In spring of 2009, I aim to get it with my new 43-foot trimaran, Dolphin Spirit. Please follow my preparations and the sail on this website, and learn how you can join our campaign to stop this horrific slaughter of our dolphin friends.
-Michael Reppy

Project Update

September 14, 2008
Dolphin Spirit Sails San Francisco Bay

It was a picture perfect day on the bay, as we took Dolphin Spirit out for a spin around the bay. With one reef in the main and the old genoa up, we hit a smooth 21 knots in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. In a previous sail in more wind, we hit 23 knots.

I have ordered a new genoa and a large screecher from Pineapple Sails, which should further improve performance. Next week will do a haul-out at Napa Valley Marina for installation of a new main hull rudder to be linked to the two existing rudders in the floats. This should much improve steering, especially needed for solo sailing under autopilot.

September 3, 2008
Japan Dolphin Day

In cities around the world, demonstrators representing over 60 organizations, protested in front of Japanese embassies and consulates against the brutal “Drive Fishery” dolphin slaughter. Japan Dolphin Day is organized each year by our Save Japan Dolphins Coalition. In San Francisco, we leafleted in front of the Japanese consulate with signs, foam dolphin hats, and Earth Island’s big inflatable dolphin.

July 5, 2008
Dolphin Spirit Arrives in San Francisco

On July 3, 2008, after a five and a half day trip down the coast from the San Juan Islands of Washington, Dolphin Spirit sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge. It was an eerie and spooky sight to see the lighted bridge suddenly appear out of a moonless, dark, and foggy night. As morning dawned, I and crew David Howitt and Bob Dixon, motored across the bay to Marina Bay in Richmond, Dolphin Spirit’s new home.

It had been the shake-down sail we needed to test all systems on the boat after such a major re-fit, and in fact involved getting pounded hard beating out the Strait of Juan de Fuca our first day out. With winds gusting over 30 knots and vicious wind against tide seas in the strait, Dolphin Spirit was slamming and banging with terrific stress on the cross beam connections causing loud creaks with movement at the joints. We re-tightened all the bolts, and sailed on, but when stress cracks developed near the aft connections, we headed back to port to investigate. We determined the cracks were not structural weakening of the cross beam connections, did fiberglass repairs and set sail again.

The seas in the strait had eased and we had an easy sail out, turned the corner at Cape Flattery, and had an exhilarating run down the coast of Washington in 15-20 knot winds. Dolphin Spirit was heavily loaded with supplies and gear, but did hit 19.3 knots with a reef in main and the genoa up, and we could feel the potential for more!

The rest of the trip was very slow going, mostly motor-sailing in light southerly winds. We even had to pull into Crescent City to refuel. One highlight was passing a pod of orcas heading north along the Oregon coast, and took pictures to ID, and sent them to the Center For Whale Research on San Juan Island.

All in all, Dolphin Spirit performed very well, but we did confirm our suspicion that the steering is hard and difficult - too hard for an auto-pilot to handle in heavy seas and running at higher speeds in following seas. Dolphin Spirit has a small rudder in each float which had been adequate for hand steering by full crew in prior years. We have decided to build and install a main-hull rudder for better control for single-handing. I contacted designer Tony Grainger, who agrees that is the way to go.

So the count-down begins to out-fit Dolphin Spirit for her mission for the dolphins to break the solo sailing record to Japan next spring. High on the list are: the new rudder, new sails, a second auto-pilot, life-raft, new main halyard winch, and some new running rigging. Your tax deductible donations will be much appreciated!

Secret Documentary Film to Expose Taiji Dolphin Slaughter
Save Japan Dolphins Coalition has been working with Oceanic Preservation Society in a $5 million dollar "covert operation" film to be released in late 2008, featuring placement of High Definition cameras on the killing beaches in fake foam rocks made by Kerner Optical (formerly George Lucas' Industrial Light And Magic Shop), and cameras and hydrophones planted underwater by world free diving champion Mandy-Rae Cruickshank. The film captures the gruesome, bloody slaughter and the terrifying screams of the panicked and dying dolphins, and includes interviews with Japanese scientists condeming the sale of the highly mercury toxic dolphin meat. Japan Times story.

October 12, 2007
Dolphin Spirit To Winter In Friday Harbor

With winter-like stormy weather patterns already setting in along the Pacific Northwest coast, I made the decision to keep Dolphin Spirit at Shipyard Cove Marina in Friday Harbor for the winter. I will be driving back down to the San Francisco Bay Area to resume my job as a home health care physical therapist and will return in the spring for more sail trials. Crew David Howitt and Scott Shaffer live on San Juan Island and will look after the boat.

Sept 26, 2007
Dolphin Spirit On First Sail

Along with crew David Howitt and Scott Shaffer, we took Dolphin Spirit out for a few hours on her first sail in light airs off Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. All systems worked well. But it will take a lot more sailing in more wind to really do a proper shake down, before she is ready to sail down the coast to San Francisco.

September 6, 2007
Dolphin Spirit Launched!

On a beautiful indian summer-like day, we launched Dolphin Spirit with two cranes doing the lift. Crew David Howitt expertly towed her on a trailer to the water’s edge, with Scott Shaffer directing clearance through cars in Shipyard Cove Marina parking lot.

I did the christening with a bottle of champagne, with a small gathering of folks cheering me on. Plans are for about one more week of work to complete electronics installation, re-glassing the dagger-board, stepping the mast, and rigging the boat for sailing. After a few test sails, we will sail Dolphin Spirit down the coast to San Francisco, where she will be prepared for my solo record run to Japan next spring.

Take action:

Read the latest news and sign our petition to put a warning label on all dolphin meat sold in Japan.

Dolphin Spirit on her first sail in San Juan Channel off Friday Harbor, Washington ©Peter Fromm

Dolphin Spirit sails the bay

Japan Dolphin Day Demo in San Francisco

Michael Reppy, David Howitt and Bob Dixon on arrival at Marina Bay, Richmond, California

Michael Reppy at Dolphin Spirit christening

Dolphin Spirit on trailer ready for launch

Dolphin Spirit launched with two cranes on September 6, 2007

Dolphin Spirt at the dock after launch

Michael Reppy christening Dolphin Spirit

Skipper Michael Reppy with crew David Howitt and Scott Shaffer