Round-world team head south

Press, 16 February 1980, Page 14

Round-world team head south

By

J. M. CAFFIN

Members of the British Transglobe Expedition have completed the first leg of the Antarctic stage of their planned polar , circumnavigation of the world, using the Greenwich meridian as a'basic route. They have established a base camp in the Borga Massif, about 289 km from the South African base, Sanae, where they will winter before beginning the crossing of Antarctica to Scott Base by way of the South Pole, the Robert Scott Glacier, and the Ross Ice Shelf. On January 4 the expedition, led by Sir Rahulph Fiennes reached Sanae from Cape Town well ahead of schedule aboard the support ship Benjamin Bowring, formerly the Kista Dan. Apba.se was established near Sanae, and the expedition spent most of January unloading supplies and equipment. Late in the month the three members of the ice team. Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Charles Burton, and Oliver Shepard, which will make

the Antarctic crossing set out for the Borga Massif, each driving a snowmobile which tows a supply sledge. They were accompanied by Lady Fiennes, who will also winter . at the . Borga base camp, and a film crew. Bad weather at the base near Sanae delayed the .ice team, and members of the expedition, were confined to their huts for three days be- . cause of a : 60-knot wind, driving/snow, and reduced visibility. To reach’ the Borga base camp site at 73deg S/sdeg W, the party had to climb into the mountains to a height of about 2438 m. .X

Air support tin the establishment of the base camp this month - was' provided by the expedition’s ski-equipped Twin Otter ’ aircraft, which was flown to Sanae' from South America after the Benjamin Bowring arrived. Early in the month the air supply team, Captain Giles Kershaw and Sergeant Gerry Nichols, were engaged in a race against time and weather ferrying all the fuel, equipment, and supplies

needed before the winter sets in.

In October, depending on temperatures, the ice team plans to begin the first stage of the Antarctic crossing. Lady Fiennes will- maintain communications with the team during the crossing.

With her at the Borga base camp will be Simon Grimes, the cook and mechanic, and the crew of the Twin. Otter, who will support the ice team by flying out fuel, food supplies, and spare parts when required.