[PHOTO - Adventurer and conservationist Jim Sullivan (center) prepares
to set sail on the 30-foot sailboat "Elusive Spirit" at Marina del Mar,
California, on Sunday in this handout photo provided by Tony Winders. Sullivan
is sailing the engine-less boat on an 8,000-mile journey to Cebu City to raise
awareness for the protection and humane treatment of dolphins in the
Philippines. AP]
MARINA DEL RAY, CALIFORNIA, MARCH 7, 2012
(INQUIRER) By Joseph Pimentel AJPress -
MARINA DEL REY, California—The 1990s Scottish band, the Proclaimers once sang
about walking 500 miles and another 500 miles, just to be the man who walks
1,000 miles to "your door."
But can they top sailing 8,000 miles?
A hopeless romantic environmental activist is planning to sail 8,000 miles —
from Marina Del Rey, California to the Cebu Island in the Philippines to marry
his fiancée Sharon, while also raising awareness about the plight of dolphins,
who are senselessly killed and captured, around the world.
[PHOTO - Jim is, above all, a passionate eco-humanitarian who has
developed his own science talk-radio show to inform The DEEP's listeners about
such newsy topics as global warming, shark-finning and reef protection as well
as to explore earth's many underwater and space mysteries.]
Jim Sullivan, a science talk radio host and eco-humanitarian, is leaving for
his journey at a launch event hosted by Del Rey Yacht Club in Marina del Rey
this Sunday.
Among those attending will be Ric OÕBarry, the star of the television series
"Flipper" who was featured in the Oscar-winning documentary "The Cove" and whose
organization DolphinProject.org will benefit from any proceeds earned during the
expedition.
"The main reason I am doing this is I want to make a positive statement at
this point in my life and make a difference," the 50-year-old Sullivan told the
Asian Journal. "It's hard because when we watch the news sometimes we think
there's nothing we can do. So if I can go out into the ocean and show that I can
sail without an engine over 8,000 miles that alone is a great challenge for me
and to also raise awareness about the whales and dolphins that are being
slaughtered worldwide…"
"Oh and once I dock I'll be marrying my (Filipina) fiancée, Sharon, when I
get to Cebu," he added.
Dubbed the Xpac 8,000 Expedition, a national geographic photographer will
accompany Sullivan on the journey in a 30-foot sailboat called the Elusive
Spirit.
The sailboat will have no engine and he plans on just using the oceans
current and wind to guide them along to their destination.
He said they will be following the same trade route Spanish galleon ships in
Mexico hundreds of years ago used to use to travel to the Philippines.
He said the biggest obstacle for them will be getting out of California where
the first "500 miles is cold and will battle inconsistent winds."
"I'm scared," he said. "But I'm excited and confident. I've surrounded myself
with a great team."
Sullivan said the 8,000-mile journey will be tracked online as he sails along
the north equatorial current from latitude 33 degrees to 12 degrees North,
passing south of Hawaii, north of the Marshal Islands, south of Guam. He is
expected to arrive in Cebu in early June.
Sullivan will use the latest satellite 2-way texting technology to send
messages ashore, which will be posted on his website and via Twitter @xpac8000,
where followers can also direct words of support and encouragement to Sullivan
throughout the three-month journey.
Updates about the trip and real-time monitoring of Sullivan's location via
Google Maps will be managed by his web partner Bandacorp and published on the
site where Sullivan also hosts his radio program at www.thedeepradioshow.com.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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