Marshall Thompson (Dr Tracy on Daktari) made a guest appearance a few episodes earlier (Day of the Shark) and also was an associate director of some of the Flipper shows and kicks this episode off as the voice on the radio announcing the loss of dangerous chemicals in the waters of Coral Key.
Meanwhile Sandy is preparing for the local high school age kids swim race by placing down race markers in the water. Sometimes you wonder how the Ricks boys would survive without Flipper. He tows the skiff to the race marker spots and can hear Bud's "hold it" call even when underwater. Also, sometimes the camera angles combined with smooth water and the time of day of the shoot combine to create simply gorgeous footage. This episode really highlights the attractiveness of the Florida Keys location. Back to the plot which revolves around lost chemical bottles that are leaking toxic chemicals.
Porter makes Sandy sit by the radio in the lead up to the race to run a routine errand but Porter finds a lady in a skiff supposedly out of gas and tows her in but her antics were just attention seeking behavior. Flipper alerts Porter to a school of dead fish and he dives to find the leaking tanks and is partially overcome. The lady helps get him to the hospital and Sandy is told by phone but feels to stay put. The race goes on despite a girl admirer pleading for the race organizers to wait for her "dream boat" (i.e. Sandy). Flipper knows the chemicals lie in the path of the racers. Bud persuades Sandy to follow Flipper who hooks the finish line marker and moves it away from the chemical leak but in so doing messes up the race. Porter gets out of hospital and races to the site. Sandy comes ashore to apologize to the race coordinator for Flipper's behavior only to be attacked verbally and physically by his rival (played by dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry) and the admiring girl. Porter arrives to tell of the averted catastrophe but not before dressing down the boys for deserting their post. I have to say that for Sandy to initially choose to stay by the phone after hearing the news that his dad was OK in hospital rather than swim the race shows real discipline. A 15 year old today would head for the race!
Funny scene of the episode - Bud not wanting to eat Sandy's burnt corned beef hash that even Pete the Pelican rejects! Also a rare episode with a ton of adult extras being the parents of the racers.
Meanwhile Sandy is preparing for the local high school age kids swim race by placing down race markers in the water. Sometimes you wonder how the Ricks boys would survive without Flipper. He tows the skiff to the race marker spots and can hear Bud's "hold it" call even when underwater. Also, sometimes the camera angles combined with smooth water and the time of day of the shoot combine to create simply gorgeous footage. This episode really highlights the attractiveness of the Florida Keys location. Back to the plot which revolves around lost chemical bottles that are leaking toxic chemicals.
Porter makes Sandy sit by the radio in the lead up to the race to run a routine errand but Porter finds a lady in a skiff supposedly out of gas and tows her in but her antics were just attention seeking behavior. Flipper alerts Porter to a school of dead fish and he dives to find the leaking tanks and is partially overcome. The lady helps get him to the hospital and Sandy is told by phone but feels to stay put. The race goes on despite a girl admirer pleading for the race organizers to wait for her "dream boat" (i.e. Sandy). Flipper knows the chemicals lie in the path of the racers. Bud persuades Sandy to follow Flipper who hooks the finish line marker and moves it away from the chemical leak but in so doing messes up the race. Porter gets out of hospital and races to the site. Sandy comes ashore to apologize to the race coordinator for Flipper's behavior only to be attacked verbally and physically by his rival (played by dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry) and the admiring girl. Porter arrives to tell of the averted catastrophe but not before dressing down the boys for deserting their post. I have to say that for Sandy to initially choose to stay by the phone after hearing the news that his dad was OK in hospital rather than swim the race shows real discipline. A 15 year old today would head for the race!
Funny scene of the episode - Bud not wanting to eat Sandy's burnt corned beef hash that even Pete the Pelican rejects! Also a rare episode with a ton of adult extras being the parents of the racers.
