Facebook

Login

Support Sailonline

If you haven't already - join the SAILONLINE YACHT CLUB!

Please also consider making a donation - all amounts are greatly appreciated!

Board » Flag Officers » Race proposals » Shackleton Challenge

Page: 1 2 Next

Posted by
76Trombones


Users avatar

Posts
362
Registered at
2009-08-03 18:04:56
2011-04-08 23:04:29 - Shackleton Challenge
We've talked about this one for a while, and it looks like our square rigger polar is ready to go.

I suggest breaking the voyage of Endurance, the drift, the loss of the ship and the heroic final whaleboat journey into 4 legs. The first is a true ocean race needing a couple of weeks (depending largely on conditions in the Wedell Sea), while the final 3 legs should fit nicely into some our vacant mid-week slots. Doing it all in one go would be 30 days or so.



An adventure in 4 acts:

Leg 1 - The expedition. Endurance leaves Grytviken bound for Antarctica. Shackleton intends to land at Vahsel bay and lead a party of six overland to the Ross Sea. This leg has a single waypoint in the South Sandwich Is.



Leg 2 - Trapped. I hope CG has room because we're spending this leg on Flo(e) ;-). The ice permanently closes in around Endurance just short of the goal and the expedition spends the next 9 months adrift. No ice in SOL so we should handle this leg in less than a week.



Leg 3 - Loss of Endurance. The ship is crushed by the ice and eventually sinks. The crew salvage as much they can carry and spend the next 5 months camping on the ice and making slow progress NW. In three lifeboats they eventually reach Elephant Island.



Leg 4 - James Caird. In what is widely regarded as one of the great feats of navigation and sailing, Shackleton and 5 crew sail a whaleboat 800nm to South Georgia, which they then cross on foot, reaching the whaling port of Stromness and securing rescue for the expedition. 3 months later, the entire remaining crew is rescued.



GE kmz attached.

--- Last Edited by 76Trombones at 2011-04-09 13:32:28 ---
Attachments
Posted by
ShamrockPirate


Users avatar

Posts
189
Registered at
2010-12-03 17:49:57
2011-04-09 14:43:27 - Re: Shackleton Challenge
Masterful Work

76T... this is AWESOME!! An immense amount of work. Outstanding job!!!
I hope we're not going to wait for the anniversary of the REAL voyage in DEC. Can't wait to see the polar. Is there anyway to dream up a polar for the Caird?

SP
Posted by
sol


Users avatar

Posts
298
Registered at
2008-08-14 11:08:14
2011-04-09 15:29:32 - Re: Shackleton Challenge
Thanks for bringing this saga to mind. In a less technological era the abilities & resourcefulness of these men to cope under such dire circumstances is a testament to a time when true self reliance was prized.
Posted by
76Trombones


Users avatar

Posts
362
Registered at
2009-08-03 18:04:56
2011-04-09 16:26:22 - Re: Shackleton Challenge
A very nicely done GE tour of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition is available here "South: The Story of Shackleton's 1914-1917 Expedition"

Tons of info, all nicely mapped out. My little summary glosses over quite a bit (!). For an encore (lol) we could include the 3 unsuccessful rescue attempts and the final one for some nice windward-leeward work... Our polar is a bit of an anachronism, but suits.

If we enjoy ourselves we'll have to follow up with the Ross Sea half of the expedition.

Then onward to the Arctic in search of Franklin...

*Then* the 2nd Voyage of HMS Beagle. And you thought going the "right" way around in modern 60s took ages... They stopped often though. We could do it in say 20 legs. Most 8-12 days, 380 or so total haha. Spread over 5 years like IRL that wouldn't be so bad ;-)
Posted by
Rod


Users avatar

Posts
392
Registered at
2010-06-24 22:30:48
2011-04-09 20:16:57 - Re: Shackleton Challenge
A very nice challenge of considerable historical interest----but I don't know if it is the one we should do first for square-riggers. I would like to see a "Tea Clipper" race first, because they probably did some of the most remarkable sailing speeds known. It would be very challenging for SOLers to beat some of the Tea Clipper "24 hr runs", as well as some of the port-to-port times, specifically including the challenge of entering and leaving port.
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.
Posted by
Rod


Users avatar

Posts
392
Registered at
2010-06-24 22:30:48
2011-04-09 20:20:05 - Re: Shackleton Challenge
With regards to square riggers, is it technically possible in SOL to include choice of sails in the program, because this was such a very big part in the seamanship needed to handle these "greyhounds of the seas"????
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.
Posted by
76Trombones


Users avatar

Posts
362
Registered at
2009-08-03 18:04:56
2011-04-09 21:25:18 - Re: Shackleton Challenge
As a navigation simulation, not really. The composite polars we use are meant to represent the best choice of sail for each condition. Sail changes are included and automatic (and visible in some of our more detailed polars). One of the mmorpgs had a square rigger that needed "crew" for sail changes etc.

We did a race "wrong way" around Cape Horn last year using the clipper polar, though we lucked into some favorable wind. We've discussed the other potential clipper routes as well, and they'd make fantastic races. The only problem is that they're all *long* (upward of 100 days in some cases) and non-stop. People are still keen, but a little tough to schedule.

One of the Clipper routes that has always seemed like a good race to me is the Opium rum from Calcutta to Canton. It's one of the short ones, uphill in interesting weather. Still works out to 40 or 50 days though.

I'd really like to see a 24h run too. Ideally clocked, with time to position oneself first. SOL doesn't currently have a way to handle this though. We could do it unofficially.

Posted by
Rod


Users avatar

Posts
392
Registered at
2010-06-24 22:30:48
2011-04-10 01:10:31 - Re: Shackleton Challenge
I remember in the VORG that we had a choice of headsails and spinackers, and could destroy them by carrying them in too high wind speeds, requiring a visit to a port to get them repaired.
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.
Posted by
RainbowChaser


Users avatar

Posts
2656
Registered at
2009-06-14 09:44:50
2011-04-10 19:03:24 - Re: Shackleton Challenge
76T - fabulous! Please may I ask a favour though? I can't match up the waypoint names in the kmz file with what you mention as the different legs here in this thread.

Please would you clarify all the waypoints and the start/finish points for each leg? or.. just list them here and I can then add them as necessary in the SOL races.

Thanks!

Also.. what time of year do you consider best for this?

Posted by
76Trombones


Users avatar

Posts
362
Registered at
2009-08-03 18:04:56
2011-04-11 01:09:49 - Re: Shackleton Challenge
Sorry RC! The first race as described is from Grytviken to the Wedell Sea mark, with a turn at Saunders Island. The remaining legs are start/finish only: Wedell->Endurance (where she finally sunk), Endurance->Elephant Island, Elephant Island->Stromness. IRL they landed on the West coast and walked across, but other than the wonky finish line I think it makes sense to leave the choice of which way 'round South Georgia all the way to Stromness.

Any time of year should be fine, as this is more of an "inspired by" than otherwise. I thought we could use it as filler as needed, with breaks in-between. The first leg needs a longer slot, but after that they are short enough to fill some 4-5 day openings. Seems like a nice race to have "on hand".

The photos attached are all public domain and I included larger ones that *should* be properly formatted for the blog. The drawing is my 5min attempt inspired by Rockwell Kent. I like the multiple square riggers... you have to imagine zooming out for the remaining 496 SOL boats :-). Luckily the whales are safe from us.

Page: 1 2 Next

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Cape Town to Rio 2026

Welcome to South Africa and RCYC's classic transatlantic Cape2Rio Race from Cape Town, South Africa, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. First run in 1971, this run is buddied with the IRL, Cape2Rio 2025 arranged by the Royal Cape Yacht Club with the cooperation of the
Iate Clube do Rio de Janeiro Despite this being announced the 2025 race (starting dec. 27) it is the 2026 SOL championship kickoff. This virtual version, will be raced once again in Mark Mills' 74ft speedster, the stunning C2R74.
Race #1996 INFO
by brainaid.de
C2R74 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
OCQ1 - OCCH - SUPBUD - SYC
Race starts: Dec 27th 12:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

ORCV Melbourne to Hobart 2025

Welcome to the legendary Westcoaster, a true test of endurance and seamanship that’s challenged sailors for over 50 years! Spanning 435 nautical miles, this iconic race takes the fleet from Melbourne, across the wild Bass Strait, and around Tasmania’s rugged west coast to Hobart. Organized by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria, this year our SOLers will be racing the sleek and powerful Dehler 46—a fast, elegant regatta cruiser built for both speed and adventure. Get ready for an unforgettable offshore classic!
Race #1952
INFO by brainaid.de
Dehler 46 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Dec 27th 02:30 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Tasman Double 2025 - Sydney to Hobart

Christmas in Summer? Indeed! Kick off the first leg of our two-leg Tasman Double series in the classic 625nm Sydney to Hobart race, this year in the upgraded SuperMaxi 100v2. Inspired by Neville Crichton’s legendary Alfa Romeo II and her near-sister Wild Oats XI, these yachts blaze across online and real-world waters alike. Feel the thrill even in storm-force winds as you tackle the Tasman Sea—dock in Hobart victorious, or at least in time for a well-earned post-Christmas drink!
Race #1953
INFO by brainaid.de
Super Maxi 100v2 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: TD - SYC
Race starts: Dec 26th 02:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Valletta Sprint 2025


We invite you once again to this SOL classic around the Middle Sea, departing from and returning to historic Valletta. Loseley modelled on an IRL classic often sponsored by a luxury wristwatch purveyor, our c 600nm course takes us north as far as Stromboli, then west of Sicily and south to Lampedusa and back to Valletta probably via the strait between Malta and Gozo. This year we will race it all in very Meddy Dufour 40’s!
Race #1949
INFO by brainaid.de
Dufour 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
RACE CLOSE: Monday,
December 29 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Dec 20th 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member bonknhoot
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member pepsPV5
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Panpyc

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

SYC members have the benefit of access to our mobile/lightweight web client!

The mobile client