THE BOAT JOURNEY 
Port Stanley, in the Falkland Islands, 540 miles away, but we 
could scarcely hope to beat up against the prevailing north- 
westerly wind in a frail and weakened boat with a small sail 
area. South Georgia was over 800 miles away, but lay in the 
area of the west Avinds, and 1 could count upon finding whalers 
at any of the whaling-stations on the east coast. A boat party 
might make the voyage and be back with relief within a month, 
provided that the sea was clear of ice and the boat survive 
the great seas. It was not difficult to decide that South Georgia 
must be the objective, and I proceeded to plan ways and 
means. The hazards of a boat journey across 800 miles of 
stormy sub-Antarctic ocean were obvious, but I calculated 
that at worst the venture would add nothing to the risks of 
the men left on the island. There would be fewer mouths to 
feed during the winter and the boat would not require to take 
more than one month's provisions for six men, for if we did 
not make South Georgia in that time we were sure to go under. 
A consideration that had weight with me was that there was 
no chance at all of any search being made for us on Elephant 
Island. 
The case required to be argued in some detail, since all hands 
knew that the perils of the proposed journey were extreme. 
The risk was justified solely by our urgent need of assistance. 
The ocean south of Cape Horn in the middle of May is known 
to be the most tempestuous storm-swept area of water in the 
world. The weather then is unsettled, the skies are dull and 
overcast, and the gales are almost unceasing. We had to face 
these conditions in a small and weather-beaten boat, already 
strained by the work of the months that had passed. Worsley 
and Wild realized that the attempt must be made, and they 
both asked to be allowed to accompany me on the voyage. I 
told Wild at once that he would Lave to stay behind. I relied 
upon him to hold the party together while I was away and 
to make the best of his way to Deception Island with the men 
in the spring in the event of our failure to bring lielp. Worsley 
I would take with me, for 1 had a very high opinion of his 
accuracy and quickness as a navigator, and especially in the 
snapping and working out of positions in difficult circumstances 
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