Michael Reppy is setting sail for Japan to break sailing records as well as heighten awareness of marine mammals.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — -Michael Reppy is setting off on the first leg of what he calls "The Pacific Triangle 2000," aboard the 60-foot former BOC racer Thursday's Child with two purposes in mind: breaking sailing records and protesting drive fishery and sea mammal captivity.
Three years ago the single-handed sailor had the San Francisco to Tokyo record within his grasp when he capsized his 36-foot trimaran NAI'A a mere 300 miles from the finish. He was rescued, but the vessel was found 18 months later washed up on Midway Atoll, broken beyond repair. By then though, Reppy already had another boat, Thursday's Child. After an extensive refit, he is now seeking to best the San Francisco to Yokohama record of 34 days and 6 hours set by Peter Hogg aboard the 40-foot trimaran Aotea in 1992.
Highlighting the plight of marine mammals is the other goal Reppy hopes to achieve with the voyage. He is sailing for the Earth Island Institute's International Marine Mammal Project, and to support Japanese environmental groups like Dolphin Whale Action Network, the Japan Environmental Exchange, and Free Orca—all of which are working to end the drive fishery in which Japanese fishermen herd hundreds of dolphins into shallow bays and slaughter them. Reppy also wants to end captivity of whales and dolphins in marine parks.
Thursday's Child will follow the longer, but more favorable 5,400-mile trade route north of Hawaii, running most of the way under spinnaker, until heading back up northwest into the more variable winds to Japan.
On the second leg of the "Pacific Triangle 2000" Reppy will take aim at another single-handed transpacific sailing record: Misake, Japan, to Victoria, Canada, set by John Oman in Northwest Spirit, (23d and 21h) in 1992. This sail will be dedicated to freeing the orca whale Corky, held at Sea World, San Diego. Corky is the longest-held captive whale in the world, having been taken away from the waters of British Columbia 30 years ago. Reppy hopes to break the record and make a plea to Anheuser Busch, the owner of Sea World to implement a rehabilitation and release plan and to return Corky to her family.
After the finish in Victoria, Michael will rendezvous with world-famous orca researcher Dr. Paul Spong at his facility ORCA LAB in the Johnston Straits of Vancouver Island, home waters of Corky's family pod. Nearby sits an ideal bay which they plan to net off for Corky's "halfway house" and eventual reunion with her family. Reppy will underscore his appeal to Anheuser Busch for Corky's freedom by making a tour of major ports down the West Coast to San Diego, ending with a rally at Sea World. He hopes to bring attention to Corky's plight and drum up support for her release at rallies in ports like Seattle, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara. For more information: www.tchild.org