The Greatest Feat Of Navigation
The Story Of The True Antarctic Hero
Somewhere in the 18th and 19th century there was a time that exploring the Antarctic was somewhat the equivalent of what would be exploring Mars now, but without any satellite imagery or communications. Just imagine boarding a rocket set for Mars without the insurance that you will ever see home again. These endeavours were seen by most sane people as simply suicide but, for some, it was their mainspring for living. It is, in my opinion, one of the greatest times of exploration in human history. One such individual is not a known explorer but was indeed onboard of some of the greatest journeys ever known. At some point saving his entire crew from certain death using his astounding celestial navigation skills in the most unbearable circumstances. Here’s the story of Captain Worsley and the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
Frank Arthur Worsley, Born the 22th of February 1872 in Akaroa, New Zealand, had been a Master for years before meeting with Sir Ernest Shackleton in London in 1914. Starting his sailing career in 1891 as a third mate with the New Zealand Shipping Company and leaving for the New Zealand Government Steamer Service four years later he was quick to climb the ladder in ranks. In June 1900 Worsley past his examination for foreign master's certificate with flying colours and sailed with several merchant ships around the South Pacific. Worsley later joined the Royal Navy Reserve and after some additional training and specialization joined the Royal Navy of New Zealand. With this he sailed from England to Canada and South America.
One night whilst awaiting berth in London he, incredibly, had a dream about sailing a ship around icebergs drifting down Burlington Street. This for him was his call for something else. Walking down Burlington Street the next day he stumbled upon a sign on advertising Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Worsley applied and very shortly after conversating with Shackleton, was assigned the position of captaincy of the Endurance. Shackleton could not have possibly more fortunate with his new assigned captain because unknown to him at the time, before him lay possibly the greatest story of survival in human history. This without a doubt, would not have been possible without Captain Worsley.
Fast forward to April 1916. The Endurance was abandoned due to its likelihood of sinking very shortly. Camp was set up further North on Elephant Island. It was decided by Shackleton and Worsley that this location bid no habitation for Winter was soon to arrive. Shackleton decided that he shall take a small party to set sail on the small 6.7m lifeboat named the James Caird. Worsley decided to join the party as a navigator only equipped with a sextant, nautical almanac and a mechanical clock set to London time. He kept this clock underneath his clothing against his body to ensure the clock held consistent temperature, thus keeping accurate time. The James Caird set of on the 24th with set course for South Georgia. The party of six faced the most terrible seas and storms as waves could reach up to 5 meters high. Weather was so terrible that they rarely got to see the sun or any celestial bodies which made determining their position and heading incredibly hard. Worsley was only able to take a few sightings with his sextant which made the changes of them reaching south Georgia only harder. If they were off by only a few miles it could mean they missed the Island completely. This could be most devastating for both shore as for the sailing party. Worsley would describe taking the sightings as cuddling the mast for dear life whilst swinging forward and aft only to have a few seconds in the waves highest point to take a single sighting. Other times he had to be held onto the boat by the others whilst taking his sightings to ensure he wouldn’t fall overboard. Amazingly, after 16 cruel days in the terrible Scotia Sea they made it exactly in the by Worsley calculated position, Cape Demidov. The crew landed and made their way to a Norwegian whaling station a few days later, Stromness Bay. From here a plan was devised to rescue the remaining party on Elephant Island before the Winter would close this opportunity. Shackleton managed to find a Chilean Vessel named the Yelcho and set out to rescue his remaining crew. Amazingly, all remaining crew was found to be alive and well still. All crew was boarded within an hour and the Yelcho set sail for Punta Arenas, arriving there safely a few days later.
Worsley continued his service for the Royal Navy during World War I and was later on after the war once again reunited with Shackleton for a Winter deployment to Murmansk, to help aid the White movement in its fight against the Bolsheviks. Worsley retired in 1920 and was rewarded The Distinguished Service Order (DSO), The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) and The Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve (RD).
It is without a doubt one of the greatest stories of survival in maritime history. His contributions of incredible skill and knowledge to the crew of the Endurance have made a true difference between life and death. Not to mention the outstanding persistence of all other crew of the Endurance of course. Imagining this event in itself gives me chills every time. I think we can all agree that not many of us would have the stone cold preservation for a journey as such he and the crew had.
Once again, just imagine stranding on mars. Good luck with that…
