In
honor of Sir Ernest
“For scientific leadership, give me Scott, for swift and efficient travel, Amundsen. But when you are in a hopeless situation, when you are seeing no way out, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton” Raymond
Priestley, a sailor who worked for the three “great men” of the South Pole.
Ernest Henry Shackleton is, still today, a symbol and paradigm of leadership and teamwork. Born in Ireland, he led one of the most legendary adventures ever imagined: the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
The chronicle of this extraordinary expedition is a matchless story of survival: a ship wrecked by the pressure of the ice, a handful of men fighting against the cold, starvation and discouragement for months on end, exhausting voyages through the Antarctic Ocean, etc.
However, despite the distressing situation, Shackleton did not lose a single crew member. He managed to get his 27 men safely back to England, after 634 days wandering in the glacial cold of Antarctica.
We have drawn inspiration from this incredibly brave man, and tried to bring the world of sailing closer to the people, who still regard it as an elitist sport. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Constant danger. Honour and recognition in event of success".
Announcement placed by Shackleton in several British newspapers in 1913 to recruit sailors for his expedition. He received over 5,000 applications.
