Shackleton Epic is go!

Shackleton Epic, the intrepid expedition attempting to be the first to authentically re-create Sir Ernest Shackleton’s voyage of survival crossing 800 nautical miles of the treacherous southern ocean from Elephant Island to South Georgia, and the climb over its mountainous interior, is due to set off today (January 22).

Shackleton Epic aims to honour the achievements of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men in the lead up to the centenary of the expedition (2014-2016) while raising awareness about the impacts of climate change in Antarctica.

Expedition leader, Tim Jarvis, 46, an accomplished polar adventurer and environmental scientist who has dual British and Australian citizenship, will be joined in the expedition by five others including: British skipper, around-the-world yachtsman Nick Bubb, Australian navigator Paul Larsen who recently set a new world speed sailing record, and Brits, mountain leader WO2 Barry Gray RM, bosun Petty Officer Seb Coulthard RN and mountaineer and cameraman Ed Wardle.

They hope to complete the expedition by mid-February 2013.

Shackleton Epic has been in development since 2008, when Alexandra Shackleton, granddaughter of Sir Ernest, approached Tim Jarvis AM FRGS, with the idea of an expedition to honour one of the greatest leadership and survival stories of all time.

The expedition will attempt to become the first to authentically re-enact Sir Ernest Shackleton’s treacherous boat voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia, followed by the difficult crossing of its mountainous interior.

For the event, an exact replica of Sir Ernest Shackleton's boat the 22.5ft (6.9m) Whaler James Caird was built. The boat has been named the Alexandra Shackleton. The boat has been going through sea trials at King George Island and will be towed to Elephant Island for the start of the voyage.

To this day, no-one has successfully recreated Shackleton’s complete ‘double’ journey across sea and land using traditional gear. Jarvis, 46, a veteran of multiple polar expeditions, believes it will be the most challenging expedition of his life.

The only concessions to the use of period equipment will be the storage of modern emergency equipment and radios on board Alexandra Shackleton, and the presence of a support vessel, Australis in the Southern Ocean. Both the modern emergency equipment and Australis’s assistance will only be used in the event that Alexandra Shackleton gets into serious trouble.

For more information or to follow the epic voyage go to: www.shackletonepic.com.