SHACKLETON NEWS ARCHIVE

Films     Meetings     Exhibitions     Heritage     Antarctic     South Georgia     Irish     Memorabilia     Arts     Travel     International     Expeditions     Forum     Education     Directory     Feedback     Complete archive

 

TIM JARVIS: SHACKLETON EPIC EXPEDITION COMPLETES THE CROSSING FROM ELEPHANT ISLAND TO SOUTH GEORGIA

TRIUMPHANT LANDING AT PEGGOTTY BLUFF, SHACKLETON'S 1916 LANDING PLACE

Sunday 3 February 2013: At 15.30 hrs. GMT six heavily bearded, exhausted but jubilant adventurers led by Tim Jarvis took advantage of 15-20 knot winds and a 2 metre swell to help them land the Alexandra Shackleton, their 22/23 ft. James Caird replica, on the beach at Peggotty Bluff, South Georgia - the exact location where Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men landed on 10 May 1916, nearly 100 years ago.

These intrepid British and Australian adventurers - three of them still have a taxing and dangerous climb ahead of them, like Shackleton, Worsley and Crean, across treacherous mountains and glaciers - have made it successfully through Leg One of the historic re-enactment of Shackleton and Frank Worsley's desperate voyage to get help in 1916, which resulted in their reaching Stromness on 20 May and effecting the subsequent rescue of all their men.

The Shackleton Epic is aiming to become the first expedition to re-enact authentically Shackleton's legendary voyage of survival, honouring the great leader as the Centenary of his daring Endurance expedition approaches (1914-1916).

It took Jarvis and co. just 12 days to sail the 800 nautical miles from Elephant Island, an altogether smoother, more unruffled and less neck-breaking journey than that which it took the James Caird an exhausting 17 days to complete (24 Apr-10 May '16).

But the present day commemorative expedition is distinctly arduous too. It now faces its perhaps most rigorous test. Now three of the team - expedition leader Tim Jarvis, mountaineer Barry Gray and cameraman/mountaineer Ed Wardle - are preparing to climb across its mountainous, crevassed interior to reach the whaling station at Stromness – just as, after a seven-day rest, Shackleton, Worsley and Crean did in 1916.

Tim Jarvis (46), the Epic Expedition's leader and coordinator, relieved and elated, notes "The Alexandra Shackleton really stood up well to the conditions. As an exact replica of the James Caird, she was designed as a lifeboat and that's exactly how she performed. She did brilliantly. But steering her was a challenge that required enormous strength and focus."

Read about the expedition's faithful and accurate James Caird replica, the Alexandra Shackleton, honouring the explorer's granddaughter and President of the James Caird Society, patron of the expedition
Visit the expedition blog
"There was just no way to keep dry. The waterproofing with wax didn't work. Below deck, the boat was constantly damp and being on watch meant that you were directly exposed to the elements. On a few occasions a big wave washed over the deck and down the hatch soaking everything down below."

"As more moisture worked its way into the boat," puts in bosun Seb Coulthard, "the reindeer skins began to get wet and shed. The reindeer hair went absolutely everywhere – it was in your food, your drink, your clothing, your socks – everywhere!"

Paul Larsen, who as the Frank Worsley of the party steered the boat on a solid course to South Georgia with only a few days of sunshine to record accurate sun sights using traditional celestial navigation, said:
"Putting on your traditional outer gear at night in the dark was like putting on a cold, animal carcass."

See a film about the Epic expedition
What's it feel like? Read an expedition Q&A interview with Seb Coulthard
Not much chance to relax put your feet up, then. Thank God for the food, even when it ws only hoosh shovelled up or slooshed around by the team's masterchef (the Charlie Green of their party) and soon to be their mountain leader, Barry Gray.

It demands a few accolades. "I'm immensely proud of this crew", Jarvis continues. "They all performed incredibly well under such dire circumstances and the fact that we managed to sail 800 nautical miles in such a small vessel really shows what solid performers they are individually, and how incredibly well we worked together as a team."

Visit the Epic expedition's extensive photo galleries
The six-man crew consisted of skipper Nick Bubb, a veteran round the world sailor who is famous for his few words; Australian navigator Paul Larsen; bosun Seb Coulthard, who oversaw the launch of the boat at Weymouth; mountaineer/cook Barry Gray; and cameraman/mountaineer Ed Wardle, who - a veteran of two successful Everest climbs - concedes "This was genuinely the hardest thing I have ever done. In the first few days it was really hard to get any footage at all: one wwas in basic survival mode. But when that storm hit we were riding really HUGE waves – it was terrifying."

Closer, indeed, to what Shackleton experienced than anyone might have expected (the storm as the James Caird tried to put in to South Georgia nearly did for them all in 1916). Thank heavens there were no 90 foot waves.

The Epic Expedition 6-man crew will now rest for a day or so onshore before preparing for the climb by Jarvis, Gray and Wardle. Each will climb using traditional gear, while Coulthard, Bubb and Larsen will use modern gear and follow in a second party with a film crew. The planning, as always, seems impeccable.

You can send messages of goodwill to the expedition as it embarks on and completes it final stages by emailing info@shackletonepic.com. A copy of your message will appear on the expedition website.