Minister salutes courage of Antarctic expedition

THE Minister of State for Education has paid tribute to the "courage and commitment" of the Irish Antarctic Expedition. And Mid Bernard Allen said he hopes the "serious reversal" at the weekend will not affect its chances of continuing.

The expedition expects to reach its destination on the island of South Georgia within 24 hours, in spite of the loss of its replica 23 foot lifeboat, Tom Crean, in a force 10 Southern Ocean storm at the weekend.

Physically fine but mentally bruised by the capsizes and sinking of the wooden craft some 374 miles from their target, the Tom Crean crew will pursue their mountaineering programme. On land fall, the climbers on board intend to re create the 30 mile trek across mountains and glaciers which Sir Ernest Shackleton and company undertook after their 800 mile sea journey in 1916.

"I'm glad that they intend to carry on but obviously very disappointed for them at the turn of events," Mr Allen, who holds responsibility for sport, said yesterday. His Department contributed £20,000 to the venture, a sum which is "very small in relation to the courage they have demonstrated", he added.

"I look forward to their return, when I hope they will share their experiences," he said. The expedition will run a programme with schools on the Antarctic, he added.

Mr Barry Maloney, joint chief executive of Esat Digifone, the main sponsor, said the company was delighted to hear the team were well after their recent ordeal, and to hear they would continue the expedition aboard the 54 foot rescue yacht, Pelagic.

"Of course, we were very upset to hear of the loss of the Tom Crean, but we understand the tough decision which the team had to make," Mr Maloney said.

"We join with all the supporters of Digifone South Aris in wishing the expedition well over the coming weeks, and we will be continuing to assist those who wish to follow it through our daily phone and fax report service.

Speaking from the Pelagic, by satellite phone some 220 miles south of South Georgia yesterday the crew anticipated more bad weather, similar to that which resulted in three capsizes within 24 hours on Saturday.

"But we hope to be sheltering in a cove off South Georgia before it really hits," said Skip Novak, US yachtsman, and owner of the Pelagic.

The expedition's manager, Mr John Bourke, paid tribute to the rescue efforts of Skip Novak and crew in the Pelagic during the early hours of Sunday morning. Although the Tom Crean crew survived three rolls in freezing' seas and 50 to 60 knot winds, the five joint leaders, Paddy Barry and Frank Nugent, Mike Barry, Jarlath Cunnane and Jamie Young had to wait another 14 hours before conditions permitted the rescue yacht to approach.

"All the gear was taken off, with," the crew, in a very big swell and winds that were still blowing 20 to 30 knots," Mr Bourke, also a former member of the Irish Everest expedition, said. "The fact that it was done so smoothly is in no small part due to Skip's seamanship."

Novak (44), best known for his participation in the last four Whitbread Round the World Yacht Races since 1977, described the rescue as "a bit tricky".

"It was either do it then or not at all, but it was reasonably controlled," he said. "With this deep depression coming in now, in the end it was the right decision. The Tom Crean crew are feeding and resting. They are back on watch here and we had a good meal on Sunday and shot the breeze for a while. Yes, we expect the wind, which is swinging north east today, to increase, and we may have to heave to again before landing on South Georgia."

The expedition intends to anchor in King Haakon Bay, an approach which was particularly hazardous for the original Shackleton crew 81 years ago. However, the crew will travel to the former whaling station at Grytviken first, where Shackleton is buried.

In King Haakon, they will erect a brass plaque to Shackleton, on behalf of the Irish people. The polar adventurer died in South Georgia on a return trip to the Antarctic in 1922.