25/04/2023
in 1916, Ernest Shackleton, Frank Worsley, Tom Crean, Harry McNeish, Timothy McCarthy and John Vincent launched the 'James Caird', the largest of three lifeboats from their expedition ship 'Endurance', from Elephant Island.
Shackleton and his five men faced an incredibly daunting 1,300 km journey to South Georgia Island, in search of rescue for the 22 men that remained stranded. During the stormy and freezing 16-day voyage Worsley managed to safely steer the 'James Caird' to South Georgia amongst strong winds and powerful currents with only four sightings of the sun! This journey is still referred to as one of the most heroic ocean voyages of all time and its success came solely down to Worsley’s navigation skills and unbreakable perseverance under the most difficult circumstances.
When the party arrived on the west of South Georgia on 10 May 1916, the journey was still not over. Worsley, Shackleton and Thomas Crean made a grueling 36-hour overland journey to reach the whaling station on the opposite side.
In October this year, 22 young New Zealanders will visit King Haakon Bay, the landing place of the 'James Caird', as part of the Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ South Georgia. In addition, a small team of three Inspiring Explorers™ will be selected to join Expedition Leader Nigel Watson and two professional mountaineering guides for an attempt at the first New Zealand ascent of Mount Worsley.
Check out our website to read more about Frank Worsley here: https://nzaht.org/who-was-frank-worsley/
📸 Depiction of the James Caird, published in 'South' 1919.
