Old Pulteney Row To The Pole
Encyclopedia
The Old Pulteney Row To The Pole is an expedition which successfully navigated a rowing boat to the North Magnetic Pole
at 78°35.7N 104°11.9W, the position certified in 1996. It is believed to be the only polar expedition to feature rowing boats since the crew of Sir Ernest Shackleton's row to Elephant Island off South Georgia in 1916, after his aborted attempt to cross Antarctica. The 450-mile journey is expected to last about six weeks.
The expedition set out from Resolute Bay on July 28th 2011 reaching the Pole position on August 25th. It was the first time any surface vessel under human power had been to any pole position. The expedition was the first attempt at such a voyage and was made possible by the open water in the Arctic region in summer. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Centre, part of the University of Colorado
, the Arctic sea ice melted to its third smallest extent in September 2010.
in 2007 when Wishart was in Resolute Bay
, Nunavut
, Canada
for the biannual Polar Race, which he organises. Having just completed the race, he had taken a rowing machine out of the hotel onto the ice. A friend, seeing him, joked, “What are you going to do next Jock? Row to the Pole!”
Jock Wishart publicly announced his intention and the expedition's sponsor, Scotch Whisky brand Old Pulteney, in April 2010.
The attempt began on July 28, 2011. The crew departed from Resolute Bay, Cornwallis Island heading across the Wellington Channel
to the coast of Devon Island. In open waters they made swift progress to the top of the island, encountering their first significant sea ice whilst navigating the Grinnell Peninsula
.. After rowing via Cornwall Island to the south coast of Ellef Ringnes Island
, the crew sheltered for several days at Thor Island
before making their last dramatic push for the Pole. This was achieved on a long continuous row beginning at 1800 hours on August 4th 2011. The boat rowed through open water with icebergs and floating sea ice around the Noice Peninsula through channels opened up by the winds and sea currents before reaching a dense area of ice that had been driven into the bay by storms. At this point the boat's unique design as a sledge-boat enabled them to haul the boat from the water and manually pull it across the ice on the final 2-3 miles to the Pole. This boat-hauling exercise took the crew 10 hours to complete. They arrived at the Pole position at 1830 hours on August 25th 2011. Jock Wishart announced the success saying "There is now a row boat at a the '96 Mag. North Pole". On BBC Radio 4's Today programme as "an incredible journey that will go down in the history books.It's a true global first and probably one of the greatest rows of all time."
. His crew were Mark Delstanche, Billy Gammon David Mans, Rob Sleep and Mark Beaumont
. Beaumont filmed the voyage for a BBC documentary.
The expedition boat has three rowing positions on the open deck and berths for all six crew. It is self-righting and is fitted with additional equipment to enable it to be hauled out of the water onto ice and then pulled on its runners. As such it is a unique 'ice boat' design . The vessel has what is called a cathedral hull, so-named because of its profile resembling an upturned church roof. It was designed by Peter Bosgraaf, in collaboration with Welbourne Yacht Design. Hugh Welbourne advised on the laminates and under water construction, while Roger Daynes of advised on the design and construction of the "runners" on the bottom of the ice boat. The boat was built by Cris Rossiter in Christchurch, Dorset
, UK.
North Magnetic Pole
The Earth's North Magnetic Pole is the point on the surface of the Northern Hemisphere at which the Earth's magnetic field points vertically downwards . Though geographically in the north, it is, by the direction of the magnetic field lines, physically the south pole of the Earth's magnetic field...
at 78°35.7N 104°11.9W, the position certified in 1996. It is believed to be the only polar expedition to feature rowing boats since the crew of Sir Ernest Shackleton's row to Elephant Island off South Georgia in 1916, after his aborted attempt to cross Antarctica. The 450-mile journey is expected to last about six weeks.
The expedition set out from Resolute Bay on July 28th 2011 reaching the Pole position on August 25th. It was the first time any surface vessel under human power had been to any pole position. The expedition was the first attempt at such a voyage and was made possible by the open water in the Arctic region in summer. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Centre, part of the University of Colorado
University of Colorado
The University of Colorado system is a system of public universities in Colorado consisting of three universities in four campuses: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and University of Colorado Denver in downtown Denver and at the Anschutz Medical Campus in...
, the Arctic sea ice melted to its third smallest extent in September 2010.
History
The adventure was conceived by Scots adventurer Jock WishartJock Wishart
Jock Wishart is a maritime and polar adventurer, sportsman and explorer. Until his successful 2011 Old Pulteney Row To The Pole, he was been best known for his circumnavigation of the globe in a powered vessel, setting a new world record in the Cable & Wireless Adventurer a and for organising and...
in 2007 when Wishart was in Resolute Bay
Resolute Bay
Resolute Bay is an Arctic waterway in Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is located in Parry Channel on the southern side of Cornwallis Island. The hamlet of Resolute is located on the northern shore of the bay and Resolute Bay Airport to the northwest...
, Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for the biannual Polar Race, which he organises. Having just completed the race, he had taken a rowing machine out of the hotel onto the ice. A friend, seeing him, joked, “What are you going to do next Jock? Row to the Pole!”
Jock Wishart publicly announced his intention and the expedition's sponsor, Scotch Whisky brand Old Pulteney, in April 2010.
The attempt began on July 28, 2011. The crew departed from Resolute Bay, Cornwallis Island heading across the Wellington Channel
Wellington Channel
The Wellington Channel is a natural waterway through the central Canadian Arctic Archipelago in Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut. It runs north/south, separating Cornwallis Island and Devon Island....
to the coast of Devon Island. In open waters they made swift progress to the top of the island, encountering their first significant sea ice whilst navigating the Grinnell Peninsula
Grinnell Peninsula
Grinnell Peninsula is a peninsula in northwestern Devon Island in Nunavut, Canada. Discovered by the Grinnell Expedition, who named it "Grinnell Land", after the financier of Arctic explorations Henry Grinnell.-Source:*-External links:*...
.. After rowing via Cornwall Island to the south coast of Ellef Ringnes Island
Ellef Ringnes Island
Ellef Ringnes Island is one of the Sverdrup Islands in Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. Also a member of the Queen Elizabeth Islands and Canadian Arctic Archipelago, it is located in the Arctic Ocean, east of Borden Island, and west of Amund Ringnes Island...
, the crew sheltered for several days at Thor Island
Thor Island
Thor Island is one of the Canadian arctic islands in Nunavut, Canada. It lies south of Ellef Ringnes Island....
before making their last dramatic push for the Pole. This was achieved on a long continuous row beginning at 1800 hours on August 4th 2011. The boat rowed through open water with icebergs and floating sea ice around the Noice Peninsula through channels opened up by the winds and sea currents before reaching a dense area of ice that had been driven into the bay by storms. At this point the boat's unique design as a sledge-boat enabled them to haul the boat from the water and manually pull it across the ice on the final 2-3 miles to the Pole. This boat-hauling exercise took the crew 10 hours to complete. They arrived at the Pole position at 1830 hours on August 25th 2011. Jock Wishart announced the success saying "There is now a row boat at a the '96 Mag. North Pole". On BBC Radio 4's Today programme as "an incredible journey that will go down in the history books.It's a true global first and probably one of the greatest rows of all time."
Boat and crew
The expedition was led by maritime and polar adventurer, explorer and sportsman Jock WishartJock Wishart
Jock Wishart is a maritime and polar adventurer, sportsman and explorer. Until his successful 2011 Old Pulteney Row To The Pole, he was been best known for his circumnavigation of the globe in a powered vessel, setting a new world record in the Cable & Wireless Adventurer a and for organising and...
. His crew were Mark Delstanche, Billy Gammon David Mans, Rob Sleep and Mark Beaumont
Mark Beaumont
-Career and writing style:A contributor to such titles as The Times, Shortlist, The Guardian and Uncut, Beaumont's writings have predominately appeared in the NME where he has written numerous reviews and interviews since 1996 and has also functioned as the magazine's letters and singles page editor...
. Beaumont filmed the voyage for a BBC documentary.
The expedition boat has three rowing positions on the open deck and berths for all six crew. It is self-righting and is fitted with additional equipment to enable it to be hauled out of the water onto ice and then pulled on its runners. As such it is a unique 'ice boat' design . The vessel has what is called a cathedral hull, so-named because of its profile resembling an upturned church roof. It was designed by Peter Bosgraaf, in collaboration with Welbourne Yacht Design. Hugh Welbourne advised on the laminates and under water construction, while Roger Daynes of advised on the design and construction of the "runners" on the bottom of the ice boat. The boat was built by Cris Rossiter in Christchurch, Dorset
Christchurch, Dorset
Christchurch is a borough and town in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England. The town adjoins Bournemouth in the west and the New Forest lies to the east. Historically in Hampshire, it joined Dorset with the reorganisation of local government in 1974 and is the most easterly borough in...
, UK.