I was fascinated by this story in my daily yesterday, particularly the excitement of the cadet in the report.
The expedition led by explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes to cross Antarctica in winter will be a new record for humankind, deputy transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said in Monday (07/01/2013). “This ’coldest journey on earth’ is humankind’s first ever attempt in history at crossing… Antarctica in winter,” she said in a statement.Chikunga was present at the start of the journey to Antarctica on Monday when former polar research vessel SA Agulhas left Cape Town, carrying Fiennes and his crew to the ice-covered continent. SA Maritime Safety Authority CEO Tsietsi Mokhele said his organisation was proud to be part of a “historical journey”. EP Herald
and …
Sea cadet Vuyiseka Mandla can hardly sleep as the hours wind down before he embarks on the voyage of a lifetime.
The icebreaker SA Agulhas will transport a British expedition team, led by veteran explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, that hopes to make history by crossing the continent of Antarctica on foot.
Mandla, 22, is one of the 50 cadets who will be on board the Agulhas which leaves Cape Town today. The ship should reach the Antarctic in a fortnight.
“I am terribly excited and am especially interested in seeing how we are going to off-load the cargo,” Mandla said.
On board the icebreaker are 1000 drums of jet fuel, two Caterpillar backhoe loaders, sledges and shipping containers.
Mandla said he was looking forward to the opportunity to take part in the trip.
“This is not something that many people get to take part in.
“People pay a lot of money to go to the Antarctic and I am going there for free.”
Fiennes will lead a six-member team that will cross 4000km of ice as part of the “Coldest Journey” expedition – and the adventurers will have to endure temperatures as low as -90C.
They will be equipped with specialised breathing equipment to protect their lungs while conducting research during the journey.
The team also intends to raise $10-million for Seeing is Believing, a global charity that fights avoidable blindness.
Ndumiso Mhlongo, one of the cadets who has spent time with Fiennes and his team, said: “They are like family. We are at a level where we can talk to any one of them.”
South African Maritime Authority chief operations officer Sobantu Tilayi said the expedition would serve as a fine platform from which to market South African seafarers to the rest of the world.
He added that the trip was an opportunity for the cadets to get hands-on training.
The SA Agulhas will pick up the expedition team in February 2014.
Fiennes said the team will live in shipping containers which have been converted into houses.
“I hope we will like each other because if you do not like the people you will have to go outside, where it will be -70C,” said Fiennes. timeslive
Boadicea's Chariot 
Here she is leaving London on Dec 6 having collected the expedition’s equipment.
What a great pic! (from globalsouthafricans.net)
And here she is leaving Cape Town on Jan 7
Aanother great pic (from ExplorersWeb)
Er, excuse me. Why do they want to do that? 😉
Môre Janus, I suppose that as long as it is privately funded they can do what they want.
I understand that the expedition is a ‘scientific’ one, perhaps they have a grant from one of those Universities that you were on about the other day? As long as they’re paying for the charter of the Agulhas I’m happy.
A see a 10 episode National Geographic / Discovery Channel documentary of men in white suits crossing vast expanses of white wasteland next year, can’t wait 😉
Take your point soutie but I can think of many better ways to spend the money. Plus Fiennes is getting a bit old for such capers.
Hi Mrs O
I was more taken by the ‘human interest’ angle of the 50 cadets who are going to be part of this, the article in my paper was much longer than I’ve managed to find and publish here, what an adventure for them!
It’s also true that the Agulhas is forever going up and down to the southern oceans and Antarctica and that there are and will be other opportunities but I suppose to rub shoulders with Fiennes and his pals is a once in a lifetime experience for them.
Janus, perhaps they’re going to try the “hot water crinkly finger” thing in really, really cold water.
Now that’s really worth the effort! 🙂
Not that I want to carp or anything, but the ship in the picture at the head of the piece is not the same one as in subsequent pics – unless she’s had a very major refit.
The self publicising megalomanic Ranulph Fiennes is only encouraging more grubby humans to pollute one of the few remaining near pristine places.
Jazz606: Well spotted, the first photo is SA Agulhas II the replacement boat launched in 2012. The original SA Agulhas (built about 1980) is the one on the trip and in the other pictures. They are both red.
Jazz606: PS Glad I am not the only person who thinks Feinnes is a self promoting prat!.
I noticed that too, but that is where my maritime knowledge ends.
I do think you and Jazz are being a bit harsh on Sir Ranulph. But for adventurers like him we’d still be living in caves…….oops!
OZ
Imho, if he is daft enough to go and companies are daft enough to pay, why not?
Hi Jazz, well spotted, I didn’t even know that we had 2 of them! (Thanks LW)
I of course in my defence blame the lazy journalism of the Jhb Times who in fact published the incorrect picture with the article.
Thanks, I learned something today 🙂