Media Backgrounder 6 September 2012 TS Pelican Voyage Itinerary NOTE: This Itiner
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Media Backgrounder 6 September 2012 TS Pelican Voyage Itinerary NOTE: This itinerary is a guide only. The primary purpose of this voyage is to act in the support of Shackleton Epic. Our day-to-day itinerary will be determined by weather and ice conditions, and the progress made first by Alexandra Shackleton and then the team crossing South Georgia. The only certainty is that if you are fortunate enough to come along, it will be one of the greatest adventures of your life. Day 1-3 Sail Training We arrive in the lively Patagonian town of Punta Arenas, a colourful seaport overlooking historic Strait of Magellen, and settle in on the tall ship TS Pelican. Inspired by pirate ships off the Barbary Coast and the fastest corsairs of the Mediteranean Sea, this Arctic fishing trawler has been converted into a mainmast barquentine. Its three masts can fly 11 sails. Its length at the hull is 34.6 metres, its beam 7.03 metres. As voyage crew, we’ll be instantly involved, as professional crew share their knowledge and expertise, teaching us what we need to know before embarking on our history voyage. Day 4 (3/1/13) After a moving Shackleton memorial service, and amidst intense media and public interest, we climb aloft and set sail down the Strait of Magellen into the South Atlantic. We may be accompanied by Peale’s and Commerson’s dolphins, magellenic penguins, black-browed albatross and a host of other birds. Day 5 (4/1/13) We sail along the East Coast of Tierra del Fuego before entering the Straits of Lemaire. Depending on weather and sea conditions, we will attempt to sail close to Cape Horn. Rounding the Horn in a tall ship continues to be a rite of passage for the greatest sailors in history. Days 6-8 (5-7/1/13) Following close instruction from our sailing masters, we cross Drake Passage, the world’s most renowned waterway. Cape and Wilson’s storm petrels wheel about our ship, magnificent wandering albatross cruise by and onboard lectures introduce us to other seabirds, penguins, seals and whales we hope to encounter. Excitement increases as we cross the Antarctic convergence and spot our first iceberg, followed by the rugged peaks of the South Shetland Islands. We hope to finish our crossing by sailing into the volcanic caldera of Deception Island via Neptune’s Bellows. If conditions allow we may visit the abandoned whaling and scientific stations in Whalers Bay. It was to here that Shackleton first planned to reach in the three lifeboats, after breaking free from the Weddell Sea pack ice. He later changed his destination to Elephant Island. Days 9-12 (8-11/1/13) Like Amundsen, Nordenskjold and Charcot, we sail down the Bransfield and Gertlache straits along the magnificent Danco Coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. We enter a protected a maze of channels, the arteries of West Antarctica, feeding grounds of humpback whales and orcas. We hope to step onto the continent, be mesmerised by chinstrap, gentoo and possibly Adélie penguins; explore historic sites and enjoy Zodiac cruises amongst spectacular grounded icebergs where curious leopard seals await. …/2 -2- Days 13-14 (12-13/1/13) From our southernmost point, we turn and head north. Sailing a tall ship in Antarctica, past calving ice shelves, beneath sparkling mountain faces, accompanied by the blow of whales and the raucous cries of penguins, is a direct link with the Heroic Age. As we sail toward King George Island, we make landings and Zodiac cruises as time allows, or simply relax on deck immersed in the greatest wilderness on Earth. Day 15 (14/1/13) We enter Maxwell Bay, at the southern end of King George Island, a stone’s throw from half a dozen scientific stations. As we finish the trip of a lifetime, our true adventure is just beginning as we meet up with Tim Jarvis and the crew of Alexandra Shackleton. We too will be busy, preparing TS Pelican for her upcoming sea voyage. Day 16 & 17 (15-16/1/13) A true shakedown leg, as TS Pelican and Alexandra Shackleton make their way along the rugged coast of King George Island, northeast past Gibb Island. If time allows, we may attempt a landing somewhere along the way. Weather determines our route around historic Elephant Island to hallowed Cape Wild on the exposed north coast. This desolate spit of land, alive with fur and elephant seals and penguins, is where Shackleton launched James Caird on the greatest seaborne rescue attempt ever. Day 18 (17/1/13) As with any adventure in a remote environment where nature’s power dictates schedules, Alexandra Shackleton’s departure from Elephant Island is our hoped-for plan, and we are there to see her off! It will be with no small relief that we sail away too, happy that our fate is more assured than that of Frank Wild and his 21 men. On 24 April 1916, they launched the James Caird and cheered “the Boss” and his five companions, unsure if they would ever see them again. Days 19 – 32 (18-31/1/13) For some two weeks, we sail in support of Alexandra Shackleton as it makes its way northeast, 800 nautical miles across the Scotia Sea, to spectacular South Georgia. While Tim and his team are re- enacting Shackleton’s complete ‘double’ journey of his 1916 voyage using traditional clothing, sleeping and cooking gear, our living conditions will be more salubrious. Although we face the challenge of sailing a tall ship across an uncertain sea, we enjoy warm bunks and hot, delicious meals. When not on watch, there are illustrated talks on the history, wildlife, oceanography and glaciology of the region. TS Pelican’s saloon is our social gathering place, while out on deck, we keep a watch for the creatures that inhabit these waters, including the largest whale species on Earth – blues, fin and sperm. Each day we follow the progress of our adventurous teammates as we sail into history. While under sail, voyage crew will participate in shipboard activities, learning about navigation, practical seamanship and meteorology and will have the opportunity to hear from experts about Fauna & Flora International’s conservation programs and the international program based on Shackleton’s legendary leadership qualities, Shackleton’s Way. …/3 -3- Day 33 (1/2/13) Depending on sea conditions and weather, we hope to precede Alexandra Shackleton’s arrival on South Georgia by one day to allow preparations by our onboard film crew. If possible we’ll visit Cave Cove on Cape Rosa, where the James Caird first put ashore, then move down King Haakon Bay to Peggotty Bluff, where Shackleton and his companions began their trek across South Georgia. Day 34 (2/2/13) Today could well be one of great excitement should Alexandra Shackleton complete her historic re- enactment voyage. We will be in close contact with Tim Jarvis and his team and will be close by as they step ashore for the first time in weeks. Whether at Cave Cove or Peggotty Bluff, we will be surrounded by magnificent scenery and wildlife. On the shores of King Haakon Bay, we’ll see light- mantled sooty albatross, perhaps wandering albatross, and plenty of fur seals, penguins and elephant seals. Day 35 (3/2/13) While the expedition team recovers from their sea journey and prepares to cross South Georgia, we’ll explore the head of King Haakon Bay, perhaps hiking up toward Shackleton Gap overlooking Possession Bay. The crack and thunder of distant icefalls warns of the challenges our expeditioners will face in the days ahead. Days 36-37 (4-5/2/13) We bid farewell to our brave expeditioners as they set off up toward Shackleton Gap, the Murray Snowfield, the Tridents and beyond to the Crean Glacier. While they trek, we reposition TS Pelican, sailing around the northwest coast of South Georgia, past Bird Island and into some of the most unbelievably wildlife-rich waters in the world. Our tall ship is escorted by thousands of penguins, the air filled with albatross, petrels and cormorants, while hundreds of curious fur seals frolic nearby. We monitor the progress of Tim and his team, and if possible, make landings of our own on the way to our anchorage in Possession Bay. Days 38-39 (6-7/2/13) Depending on the progress of our trekkers, we reposition the ship from Possession Bay to Fortuna Bay, where the expedition team descends from the Fortuna Glacier to walk along the coast, before ascending to the final pass overlooking the abandoned whaling station at Stromness and the end of their epic journey. While in Fortuna Bay, we may visit a king penguin rookery and keep a close look out for reindeer, introduced by Norwegian whalers in the 1800s. If conditions and timing allow, some of our voyage crew may have the chance to walk the final leg of the Shackleton crossing themselves. As the expedition team progresses, TS Pelican will be repositioned to Stromness to await their arrival. Day 40 (8/2/13) After celebrating the arrival of our expedition team and enjoying the wildlife and wonder surrounding historic Stromness, we set sail for Grytviken, where the remains of the whaling station have been turned into an open air exhibition, the church beautifully rebuilt, and the museum, gift shop and post office offer a congenial way to while away the hours while TS Pelican refuels for the next leg of her voyage. …/4 -4- Day 41 (9/2/13) We visit Shackleton’s Memorial Cross, erected by his men after “the Boss” returned to Grytviken in 1922 on board the Quest, where he died of a heart attack.