The crew of the 'Tom Crean' left Ushuaia on board Pelagic at 1600 on January 6. The 54 foot Pelagic was well down on her lines with nine crew, 2800 liters of diesel, 500 liters of water, provisions for 3 months and a forepeak full of gear to support the South-Aris party on the various stages of their project whch include an 800 mile boat journey from Elephant Island to South Georgia and a traverse of South Georgia on foot.

The expedition was finally underway and the sail down the Beagle Channel enabled us to relax for the first time after a very hectic week of preparation.

In common with past explorers including Shackleton, Pelagic uses Ushuaia as a base for her operations in the Southern Ocean. It is an ideal location to launch expeditions such as the South-Aris Shackleton Boat Journey voyage. On the South-Aris team's arrival, our first job was to spring the 'Tom Crean' (the replica of Shackleton's 'James Caird') out of the grips of the customs and unload her from the 40 foot container used to ship herto Ushuaia by sea freight.

The M/V Molchanov, the Russian cruise ship which will take Tom Crean to her start point at Elephant Island in Antarctica, was in Ushuaia for a day on the 2nd of January. Officially, we had to load 'Tom Crean' directly on to Molchanov. Unoffically, we touched the Molchanov's deck with the Tom Crean's keel and then lifted her over the other side where Pelagic's dinghy was waiting to tow her to the Club Nautico. 'Tom Crean' is not due to sail with the Molchanov until her next voyage leaving Ushuaia on 12 January for a 14 January rendez-vous with Pelagic off Elephant Island.

The South-Aris team needed time to make final preparations and complete her stowage. The critical unloading was accomplished by the nine of us, with a lot of help from friends in Ushuaia and with the assistance of the Argentine Navy. We went through the checklist and completed the hundreds of minor detailed tasks that can make or break a complex logistic operation such as this one.

We also had to prepare Pelagic for the voyage. A major undertaking, including bunkering fuel to full capacity, food shopping (many things unavailable after the holidays!), servicing the engine, the two outboards for the inflatables dinghys, generator and compressor. We also checked stocks of all the fiddly, minute spare parts and consumables like nuts, bolts, screws, electrical connectors, sealants, greases, oil and glues. Finally we accounted for all the ships tools.

All this work was needed to ensure we can sustain ourselves for almost three months. Where we are bound in the Antarctic and South Georgia there are no shops, marinas or service facilities!

We did make time for a short sail on the Tom Crean on the only day when it wasn't blowing 40 knots in the Beagle Channel. This proved a good shake down and also gave us a photo shoot. Needless to say we managed to attract a flotilla of the local boats. Their crews were incredulous that these five Irishmen were to attempt Shackleton's voyage in such a small craft voluntarily! They were all amazed and later over hot whiskies served up by the Irish commented on how well well the 'Tom Crean' moved through the water, albeit on a sunny day in the flat waters of the harbour. Well into the summers evening, as only the Irish seem to know how, we all sang or followed on Frank Nugent's obscure lyrics to the accompaniment of Paddy Barry's guitar. In the background, the horizon over Isla Navarino was all aglow from the midnight sun well to the south. For the crew of the 'Tom Crean' the voyage of a lifetime has finally begun!

Skip Novak