Shackleton news, solo sailing adventurers, whale tales

by Nancy Knudsen, Editor on 7 Feb 2013

Shackleton re-enactment lands at Peggoty Bluff in South Georgia. Image by Jo Stewart SW

Well they've done it – one of the most inspiring sails in history has been recreated. Ernest Shackleton's desperate sail across 800nm of the Southern Ocean to save himself and his crew has been done again – with an escort boat of course, just in case they got into real trouble.

A couple of days ago, Tim Jarvis and his crew corrected their too northerly heading and landed, as scheduled, on South Georgia. All they have to do now is the 'impossible' climb over the mountains to the small outpost on the other side.

They are not the only adventurers out on the water seeking to fulfill their dreams, but most dreams - though without the escort boat - are in modern yachts and less hazardous for that reason.

There are three solo sailing adventurers worthy of note in the southern ocean right now, all of different nationalities – we have a look this week at their various voyages and aspirations.

As usual a great variety of cruising news from the coastlines and oceans of the world, everything from news of the new space sailer being built by NASA to the rogue wave that hit a marina in Italy this week - and the outcome.

Whale strike - close encounter of a ’too close’ kind © SW

There is an engaging article from veteran sailor Daria Blackwell about her close encounters with whales, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) is getting bigger and better and the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa is obviously worried that yachts are going to dare the Gulf of Aden again because they have issued a stiff warning, and

In practical news, there's a new RYA boat maintenance book out; the featured yacht is the Hanse 575; it's a hatch fan that has won the latest Pittman Innovation Award; and John Jamieson talks about avoiding 'hidden monsters' which can sink you very quickly – deadheads, shipping containers, barrels, drums, logs and other flotsam.

Much more too, so browse the headlines to find your own interest, and...

Sweet Sailing!
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/106349

Related Articles

The complete package
A thriving clubhouse leads to higher racing attendance, and visa versa I'm a great believer in starting things on the right foot. Be that in the morning, going for a run (even though it was damn chilly this morning) to set yourself up for the day, or preparing ahead for a meeting so that you've got the figures to hand.
Posted on 5 Jan Sydney Hobart – A very ordinary Hobart
Now don't get me wrong. That's a not a description of the on-water action. Far from it, actually Now don't get me wrong. That's a not a description of the on-water action from the 80th rendition of the Boxing Day Classic. Far from it, actually. Rather, it is a reflection upon that the elements that an ‘ordinary' Hobart invariably involves
Posted on 31 Dec 2025 Celebrating the Great Race from half a world away
The Rolex Sydney Hobart delivers a tough test While early winter isn't exactly a great time for sailing in the Pacific Northwest, this year I reeled my family into the Great Race's Boxing Day drama.
Posted on 30 Dec 2025 A new measurement system
What if you could create something that measured for real? Where we wouldn't need acronyms... What if you could create something that measured for real? You wouldn't need acronyms like IMS, IRC, ORCi, UMS, AMS, MOCRA, ORR, OMR, or PHRF. No hull factors deployed. No age allowances required. No weighing involved. No recut of sails.
Posted on 29 Dec 2025 Sydney Hobart – Double is not nothing
Can the Double Handers get up? Will it be a veteran? Can an Ocean Grader get through? The Double Handers are duking it out to see if they can get the Overall Win under IRC – the famed Tattersall Cup (officially The George Adams Tattersall Cup). There are 12 still racing under IRC in this division. Min River had it early, and now Borderline
Posted on 29 Dec 2025 Merry Christmas and Thank You!
A time to celebrate sailing I'd like to start by wishing you all a Happy Christmas, and hope that however you are celebrating, you are having fun with friends and family.
Posted on 25 Dec 2025 New and improved Swiss Army Knife
Racing it won't be easy. Enjoying Palm Beach XI should be a Hallelujah Moment! Racing it won't be easy. Owing to the complexities of angles, horsepower, one daggerboard down, the other daggerboard up, C-Foils extended, C-Foils retracted, Leeward Elevator down, Windward Elevator up, and the list would just extend from there…
Posted on 21 Dec 2025 Ambre Hasson on her 2025 Mini Transat adventure
Classe Mini skipper Ambre Hasson debriefs her 2025 Mini Transat adventure Six years ago, Ambre Hasson was living in New York City and enjoying the trappings of city life. Sailing wasn't part of her world view or skillset, nor was the thought of racing across the North Atlantic, alone, aboard a 21-foot offshore speedster.
Posted on 18 Dec 2025 Debriefing the inaugural Inclusion Championships
With luck, the IPC was paying very close attention In January 2015, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC}) made the misguided decision to drop sailing from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Sports Program. This began a series of bad decisions that the sailing world hopes to see reversed.
Posted on 16 Dec 2025 Like watching a big front build
Deploying the might of the North Technology Group is not simply about rags, strings, and sticks When you able to deploy the total might of the North Technology Group, it is not simply rags, strings, and sticks that are the outcome. Equally, it is not merely the sum of the parts. It is more. Way more… Yes. It is most certainly the best of the best.
Posted on 15 Dec 2025