Shackleton's 'Endurance' found

[Billy-o]

No, not the discovery of a new type of Viagra. They found the ship that Shackleton and his crew had to abandon and then paddle the unlikely distance across the Weddell Sea to a remote islands in the hope of being picked up (some many months later, it turned out).

Odd it should bob to the surface at a time of great need for national narratives of independence and resilience but, there you are; icons seek the light where they can find it.

Endurance: Shackleton's lost ship is found in Antarctic

What was one of the world's greatest undiscovered shipwrecks is identified on the Antarctic seafloor.

www.bbc.com

 

[FerlasDave]

I was just about to share this myself…

Be great to have a thread where we can share media coverage of this amazing find. I personally think this expedition became the greatest feat of marine navigation we’ve ever seen. Not to mention the survival stories of these incredible men.

Kind of a shame they’re not going to recover any souvenirs.. I wouldn’t mind a case of the whisky!

 

[Seagull]

Having always been interested in and an exponent of old-school celestial nav, I've long held the work of Frank Worsley as being the temple veil of what is achievable with a well adjusted ham-bone and a good watch. The latter day analysis of Worsleys sight-book and notes , by Bergman,Mearns and Stuart, just clarify his results by the light of modern data which just wasn't available at the time. Sadly, the scope and depth of that particular knowledge acquired by Worsley, had long been outdated by the late 1950,s when I was at Navigation School and , equally sadly, I was never very conversant with the "Lunars" and its various occultations, so finding the error of the chronometer.

As some sort of homage to the old methods, when wx permitting, I take my old Kingston and a tray of cooking oil and take Sun sights....working the obs's through the Marc St. Hilaire and my old Burtons...just to assure myself that my back garden hasn't succumbed to tectonic shift.

And, with a wipe of sewing machine oil, and a dab of Windolene on the mirrors, the sextant gets returned to its much battered box ...just waiting for the next time.

Regards all
Ceeg

 

[TeeDee]

Currently watching 'Against the Ice' - Not directly related to Shackleton but of the period and era.


And quite frankly , blow that for a game of soldiers.

 

[FerlasDave]

Having always been interested in and an exponent of old-school celestial nav, I've long held the work of Frank Worsley as being the temple veil of what is achievable with a well adjusted ham-bone and a good watch. The latter day analysis of Worsleys sight-book and notes , by Bergman,Mearns and Stuart, just clarify his results by the light of modern data which just wasn't available at the time. Sadly, the scope and depth of that particular knowledge acquired by Worsley, had long been outdated by the late 1950,s when I was at Navigation School and , equally sadly, I was never very conversant with the "Lunars" and its various occultations, so finding the error of the chronometer.

As some sort of homage to the old methods, when wx permitting, I take my old Kingston and a tray of cooking oil and take Sun sights....working the obs's through the Marc St. Hilaire and my old Burtons...just to assure myself that my back garden hasn't succumbed to tectonic shift.

And, with a wipe of sewing machine oil, and a dab of Windolene on the mirrors, the sextant gets returned to its much battered box ...just waiting for the next time.

Regards all
Ceeg

It’s definitely an art as much as it is a skill imo. And as you say, the depth of knowledge that’s been lost is incredible. Just keeping a watch wound and in check would be enough for me!

 

[Seagull]

Currently watching 'Against the Ice' - Not directly related to Shackleton but of the period and era.


And quite frankly , blow that for a game of soldiers.

I saw that recently and, by golly it was chilling to say the least...and , when deep sea, to think that I would chafe at the prospect of doing a couple of weeks over my 10 months trip.

On the other hand, our Pilot Books for Polar regions was full of potentially useful tips on how to make traps for hares and seals...though I, for One, was never altogether sure on just how to emerge unscathed in trying to catch the odd Polar Bear....those fearsome creatures whose liver, we were told, was not to be consumed for more than just a few days.
I,m glad I never had to find out.
Regards
Ceeg

 

[cbrdave]

Saw this on the news this morning, amazing footage and was surprised of it's condition.

 

[baggins]

Am so glad that found her. And that they are leaving her intact. Shackleton and his crew truly had an Amazing and inspirational journey, one which fired the imagination of many modern explorers. I'm sure many of us have read the various accounts of their harrowing trip and have found it a great help to put our lives into perspective.
It was just nice (and emotional for me, having stood by the James Caird) to see the name Endurance living up to her name.

 

[swyn]

Just wow! I am looking forward to seeing the pictures with a taster on Beeb news today. Crystal clear water and modern cameras will make for a viewers delight.

The story of how they all crammed on board The James Caird and sailed to South Georgia is a story and a half. Captain Frank Worsley was a navigator of the highest order.

I saw the replica of James Caird (I think is was or it may have been the real vessel) at the last proper Earls Court Boat Show. Gypsy Moth was there too exhumed from her concrete tomb at Greenwich, before it all got silly and moved to Excel. Even though the journey on the Storm Clipper at full tilt on The London River, once below Tower Bridge, is not something to be sniffed at!
S

 

[Tengu]

One of the toughest quests in Marine archaeology...

...Yet they found it.

Dad was looking at the pictures on the telly and gasping in admiration.

Its going to be the sole topic of conversation in class tomorrow, I betcha.

 

[Toddy]

There are so many shipwrecks the whole world over, and every one that has been left with more than it's hull (though that in itself is an amazing amount of information) is a goldmine of detail of it's time and period.
I am so pleased that she's been found, but even more pleased that they're leaving her alone.
Maybe, like the Uluburun, someone will find her in several thousand years time

 

[demographic]

One of my mates works with Shackletons grandson (or possibly great grandson) at Lancaster Uni.