CHRIS BENNETT has been watching the progress of a friend in
EARLY one morning, after our return from three weeks of
Now there is little unusual about that in this part of the world, I’ll grant you. Except that I had just finished reading my friend Larry’s blog. Larry Routledge is a South African in
Larry is one of those handy people who can make anything. The bigger, the better. He is working with a non-profit organisation whose aim in life is to put the Japanese whaling industry on a par with the dodo.
Larry’s blog can be seen at http://larryroutledge.blogtown.co.nz/2009/09/13/the-beginning/ .
Photos of one of the boats involved are shown, along with the story so far. The whole exercise will consist of three ships and a jetski. I can’t imagine what the jetski is for.
The crew will be operating in the deep blue bitterly cold waters of the Antarctic, a far cry from the lovely summer warmth
For those of us who see whales almost everyday the idea of an activity so archaic as whaling is a bit difficult to swallow. The usual excuse put forward by the Japanese, and, I presume, the Icelanders, is research. But do we need to hunt and kill these immense mammals to learn more about them?
They communicate with each other through their exquisite whalesong, among other means. They play and frolic with their young of the coast of
Young people like Larry Routledge, who is in frequent touch with friends on the coast through email, has made some interesting comments. Here is one of them:
“So the lads at the boatyard have been working flat out to finish the base coat and the first sections of the top coat were applied late on Friday. The finish will be matt black. There’s been an awful lot of work done on the hull and four more layers of Kevlar have been added for protection against the ice we’re likely to encounter down there. Final planning on the jetski ramp has been completed and the pieces are being made up. The prop shafts have been overhauled and were delivered on Thursday. These will be put in early next week once the painting has been completed. The rudder bits are on site too and will be put in after the shafts.
The jetski itself is getting the same matt black finish as the Earthrace and I have been doing that this week. That involves a whole lot of sanding and elbow grease but the result is looking promising. It gets its final coat on Monday and assembly on Tuesday.”
As far as I can make out the matt black is to help in deterring radar detection – stealth technology. A sort of Starfish Wars.
I wish them well and will occasionally add a note to the column about their progress. They will soon be in the news on a TV near you.
Hi Chris,
ReplyDeleteLike most days the sea looked like a mirror reflecting every existences along the harbour.I was setting up my little luchbar for the day noticing people exitingly looking towards the inlet.Low and behold there it appeared,Earthrace,what a sight,docking a few meters away.For the next few days i was elated meeting the crew,suppling coffee and cake and being infected with the energy on and of the vessel.I got an invitation to join the crew on there promo tour and could not wait for the season to end and jump on.
Shortly befor that i was struck by the appearance of a unusual men and his daughter,and felt an immidiate connection.Larry's boat Happy2 was moored in the harbour and so the story begins:
I then spend my time on Earthrace and Larry did expresse his desire to be part of the upcomming Antarctica a couple of times prior still being tied to his Job at the time and figuring out his family dynamics which where less then heahlty at the time.Infact so disturbing was his situation the lad lost his sense of direction and it took a great deal of care to get him to feel reasonably normal again.Even though we lived 4 hours apart we'd spend most weekends together and i got to really appriciate this special person and truly see his potetial which seamed to go along the wayside.Al the way realising that what we had could desolve any day due to the circumstances of his realationship and immigrationstatus,and me being a bit older perhaps to.
Keeping intouch with Pete (Earthrace skipper),the confirmation that Sea Shepherd would go ahead adding ER to the fleet i passed it on to Larry and "a plan " started to mature.
Pete was still looking for crew and so Larry send his credetials forward,now anxiously awaiting a response.
Sunday morning we spend some time on Happy2,whith Larry being busy round the boat and myself making a wish for a sign befor we left for a walk to the beach.
As we sat down on top of a hill enjoying the views the phone rang . It was Pete wanting to meet Larry.Seconds after a 20man choir started to sing on the rocks next to us.. now how is that for a sign.
Pete met Larry and that is how it all started.Sadly i got a heartfelt Dear John letter shortly after.Though am humbled by the expirience and can now acknowledge the fact that i was able to be link the perfect guy to the coolest vessel and hopefully stop the shlaughter. always Madlaina