Shackleton's Endurance in remarkable condition - video etc.

[LittleSister]

There's a vid in the article, and a film coming out about it soon.

New images show remarkable state of preservation of Ernest Shackleton’s ship


Could go on eBay as a do-er upper, perhaps?

 

[RunAgroundHard]

It’s quite remarkable.

 

[justanothersailboat]

There's a vid in the article, and a film coming out about it soon.

New images show remarkable state of preservation of Ernest Shackleton’s ship


Could go on eBay as a do-er upper, perhaps?

Looks in better order than some of the boats in the yard I use

 

[mrming]

There's a vid in the article, and a film coming out about it soon.

Could go on eBay as a do-er upper, perhaps?

“Simple project”

 

[LittleSister]

“Simple project”

Buyer collects.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

Thread drift again.

Has anyone made the pilgrimage to Dulwich school to see the James Caird ?

I'm betting it looks rather small.

 

[Poignard]

Thread drift again.

Has anyone made the pilgrimage to Dulwich school to see the James Caird ?

I'm betting it looks rather small.

No, but there is a replica of the James Caird in the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich.

It is small.

Ernest Shackleton was certainly Dulwich College's most distinguished old boy.

 

[bedouin]

Thread drift again.

Has anyone made the pilgrimage to Dulwich school to see the James Caird ?

I'm betting it looks rather small.

Yes - I've seen it several times - the mast and sails are absolutely tiny - I'm amazed they got anywhere with those.

 

[Poignard]

Yes - I've seen it several times - the mast and sails are absolutely tiny - I'm amazed they got anywhere with those.

Very strong winds and no ballast keel would have precluded larger sails.

Not only did they get somewhere, they navigated to where they wanted (had) to be; and then two of them traversed an unmapped mountain range.

The more I think of what was achieved, the more impressed I become.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Very strong winds and no ballast keel would have precluded larger sails.

Not only did they get somewhere, they navigated to where they wanted (had) to be; and then two of them traversed an unmapped mountain range.

The more I think of what was achieved, the more impressed I become.

Once they reached Elephant Island, their choices were very restricted. The closest place they could expect help was the Falkland Islands, but that was upwind, and as noted, the boats they had available had very limited windward ability; they were essentially rowing boats equipped with sails. They would be crossing the Southern Ocean, where there is a clear sweep right around the world, so both wind and waves are from the west, and unimpeded by any significant land. South Georgia was downwind and of course, had several active whaling stations which could provide assistance and had vessels accustomed to operating in Antarctic waters to rescue the crew left on Elephant Island.

Worsley's navigation was, under the circumstances, not far short of miraculous, but even so they failed to weather the westernmost point of South Georgia and made landfall on the then poorly known southern coast. Known dangers (the Hauge Reef and Annenkov Island) meant they couldn't rely on coasting along the southern coast, rounding the easternmost point and then returning along the nothern coast - it might have been possible given a well-found boat, no time pressure and a fresh crew, but given the poor condition of the James Caird and the weakening of Shackleton and his crew, it wasn't a good option. But Shackleton's choice to attempt to cross the then-unknown interior of South Georgia was a calculated risk. He knew the straight-line distance wasn't great (about 35 miles), and knew that it was a glaciated terrain, so they did prepare as well as they could. He also probably knew that glacier surfaces are treacherous, but generally fairly easy going - slopes are generally low and the surface is usually firm, especially where there is summer melt as there is in South Georgia (I have been on similar glaciers in Svalbard). But of course, they also present hazards such as crevasses and steep slopes. But the alternative was to wait and hope for a break in the weather that would allow them to carry on by sea before their limited rations ran out. Shackleton's gamble paid off, from a combination of daring, skill and luck!

Interestingly, Shackelton, Worsley and Crean were all conscious of a "fourth man" during the crossing - a well-documented example of the Third man factor - Wikipedia
The photo is of a glacier in Svalbard in 1972, to illustrate the sort of terrain they would have crossed.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Once they reached Elephant Island, their choices were very restricted. The closest place they could expect help was the Falkland Islands, but that was upwind, and as noted, the boats they had available had very limited windward ability; they were essentially rowing boats equipped with sails. They would be crossing the Southern Ocean, where there is a clear sweep right around the world, so both wind and waves are from the west, and unimpeded by any significant land. South Georgia was downwind and of course, had several active whaling stations which could provide assistance and had vessels accustomed to operating in Antarctic waters to rescue the crew left on Elephant Island.

Worsley's navigation was, under the circumstances, not far short of miraculous, but even so they failed to weather the westernmost point of South Georgia and made landfall on the then poorly known southern coast. Known dangers (the Hauge Reef and Annenkov Island) meant they couldn't rely on coasting along the southern coast, rounding the easternmost point and then returning along the nothern coast - it might have been possible given a well-found boat, no time pressure and a fresh crew, but given the poor condition of the James Caird and the weakening of Shackleton and his crew, it wasn't a good option. But Shackleton's choice to attempt to cross the then-unknown interior of South Georgia was a calculated risk. He knew the straight-line distance wasn't great (about 35 miles), and knew that it was a glaciated terrain, so they did prepare as well as they could. He also probably knew that glacier surfaces are treacherous, but generally fairly easy going - slopes are generally low and the surface is usually firm, especially where there is summer melt as there is in South Georgia (I have been on similar glaciers in Svalbard). But of course, they also present hazards such as crevasses and steep slopes. But the alternative was to wait and hope for a break in the weather that would allow them to carry on by sea before their limited rations ran out. Shackleton's gamble paid off, from a combination of daring, skill and luck!

Interestingly, Shackelton, Worsley and Crean were all conscious of a "fourth man" during the crossing - a well-documented example of the Third man factor - Wikipedia
The photo is of a glacier in Svalbard in 1972, to illustrate the sort of terrain they would have crossed.
View attachment 184313

I should say that they did have the option of trying to make it from Elephant Island to Deception Island, which was used as a rendezvous by whaling and sealing vessels (the whaling station there was later). But a) it was upwind, though there was the possibility of island hopping and b) there was no guarantee that they'd find help there.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

Very strong winds and no ballast keel would have precluded larger sails.

Not only did they get somewhere, they navigated to where they wanted (had) to be; and then two of them traversed an unmapped mountain range.

The more I think of what was achieved, the more impressed I become.

They did manage to raise the freeboard a bit and used as much rock as they dared for ballast, which was very uncomfortable to lie on.

No keel of course , and the biggest danger was breaking waves. At night they could hear one coming if not too much wind and alter course accordingly. The apprehension must have been spine chilling.

Has to rate as the greatest sail of the century.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

They did manage to raise the freeboard a bit and used as much rock as they dared for ballast, which was very uncomfortable to lie on.

No keel of course , and the biggest danger was breaking waves. At night they could hear one coming if not too much wind and alter course accordingly. The apprehension must have been spine chilling.

Has to rate as the greatest sail of the century.

The vital modification was decking her over with canvas waterproofed with seal blood and blubber. Even though it was very light, it stopped her from being flooded as easily. Shackleton attributed their survival to it.