ENDANGERED MAMMAL ALMOST FOILS YACHT LAUNCHING
AP Merritt Island,
Florida USA April 01, 2004
The largest known living manatee
surfaced just as a new yacht was being christened today. While
workers were pushing the vessel "SEDATION 4" down the slides, into the
waters of the Banana River, the enormous beast appeared and began
pushing the boat back toward shore. Assisted by a powerful
18-wheeler tow truck, workers began to overpower the manatee and the
yacht launching resumed. The manatee swam away after splashing
the crowd.
Workers struggle against the manatee during the launch.
Once floating, the vessel was moved to a small fitting-out
dock adjacent to the launch ramp. As ropes were being passed to
secure the yacht to her temporary mooring, the manatee
reappeared, grabbed a dangling bow line in its powerful jaws and
pulled the large craft out into the open waters. People stared in
disbelief while the sea cow towed the yacht at an estimated speed of
over 4 knots! About 100 yards from shore several dozen other
manatee joined the huge sea beast and the herd began simultaneously
bumping the starboard hull from beneath. Their coordinated effort
almost caused the vessel to capsize.
Launch personnel inspect damage cause By the sea cows.
Workers struggle against the manatee during the launch.
Launch personnel inspect damage cause By the sea cows.
The yacht's owner, Larry
McInerney, said he was "fed-up with this manatee bull$#*!" and dove
into the river armed with a 12 gauge flare gun kit. He swam to
the boat and began firing the waterproof flares just beneath the
surface. Manatees floated to the surface, one-by-one, until over
a dozen were slaughtered by the enraged skipper. The remaining
manatees retreated and the owner pulled his new boat safely back to
shore. Minor damage was incurred to the yachts' starboard hull by
the sea cows' viscous bumping. Since the manatee is considered an
endangered species, workers moved hurriedly to cover-up the incident
and an impromptu barbecue was held ashore.
APRIL FOOLS!!! :)
The above pix are from the December 10 launching of "Catfish"
The above pix are from the December 10 launching of "Catfish"
Launching of SEDATION 4 is scheduled for
mid-afternoon
today so the real pix will be posted tomorrow or this weekend.
We've been "burning the midnight oil" in preparation. The
Teflon-Copper
antifouling bottom paint is scheduled to arrive at noon, so launching
"could" be delayed if the overnight shipment doesn't arrive on-time.
Here's a few photos from the past several evenings:
