Expedition Crew

"The hazards of a boat journey across 800 miles of stormy sub-Antarctic ocean were obvious…
all hands knew that the perils of the proposed journey were extreme.  The risk was justified."

(From South: Sir Ernest Shackleton)

Joining Shackleton Epic Expedition Leader Tim Jarvis AM, on the Alexandra Shackleton is an expert crew of five:

Skipper Nick Bubb: Professional offshore sailor, accomplished around the world yacht racer and  mechanical engineer.  Since 2001 Bubb has raced around the world non-stop on a maxi-cat in the Oryx Quest; competed in the Volvo Ocean Race; Transat Jacques-Vabre; Route du Rhum; Mini Transat; Round Britain and Ireland twice and sailed onboard virtually all classes of offshore racing yachts.  Bubb’s professional qualifications include RYA Commercial Yachtmaster; ISAF/RYA Offshore Safety Certificate (additional training for VOR); RYA Sea Survival Certificate (additional training for VOR); RYA First Aid Certificate (additional training for VOR); RYA Maritime Radio Operator Certificate. Lives Lymington, UK, 33 years of age.

 

 

Mountain Leader WO2 Barry Gray RM: The Royal Marine’s mountain leader chief instructor, giving him the responsibility for the training of all other mountain leaders as well as the entire Tri Service environment (Army, Navy, RAF).  In 2010 his team of instructors trained over 2000 men in cold weather survival and mountaineering.  Having been involved in expeditions to Nepal, the Andes, Swiss/French and Italian Alps and Norway, he was also the lead cold weather expert for the ship HMS Endurance (The UK’s Antarctic patrol vessel) in 2005, giving him extensive experience climbing and mountaineering on South Georgia, Deception Island and many other locations in Antarctica.  Gray’s career in mountaineering began in the Royal Marines in 1992.  He completed his mountain leader course in 1999.  Lives Plymouth, Devon, 38 years of age.

 

 

Sailor and Navigator Paul Larsen: Australian born Paul Larsen is an offshore sailor with 100,000+ miles and seven world records.  Paul has a history of sailing some of the fastest boats ever to grace the oceans. He is project leader/pilot for the Vestas SailRocket Project, a realisation of Paul’s ultimate dream to sail the fastest boat on the planet – the goal being firmly in Paul's sights.  He continues to sail during the Vestas SailRocket Project, including winning a non-stop circumnavigation in the Oryx Quest, a double-handed lap of Britain with Pete Goss on the 30ft Seacart trimaran and a Little America's Cup in radical wing sailed C-class catamarans.  Lives Weymouth, UK (grew up in country Victoria, Australia).  42 years of age.

 

 

Expedition Bosun Petty Officer Seb Coulthard RN FRGS: Representing the Royal Navy as a tribute to Shackleton’s leadership and the brave spirit of the men who accompanied him.  Over the last twelve years Coulthard has worked at the sharp end of naval aviation with previous postings overseas spanning half the globe. The Royal Navy has exposed him to some of the most inhospitable regions of the world including the Southern Ocean, the safe quadrant of a few developing hurricanes in the Caribbean, and mined areas surrounding the Shatt al-Arab waterway in the Northern Arabian Gulf.  Coulthard’s past expeditions include Tanzania, Atacama Desert and Yosemite National Park.  Coulthard currently works for Lynx Helicopter Force, a branch of the
Fleet Air Arm that specialises in small ship aviation.
Lives Bewdley, Worcestershire, 30 years of age.

 

 

Expedition Cameraman Ed Wardle: Adventurer, experienced high altitude mountaineer and Arctic explorer. Wardle is also a freelance documentary filmmaker, series producer and camera operator. He has filmed and produced a diverse range of broadcast television from factual entertainment to extreme adventure documentary, shooting on all formats from the top of the world to the bottom of the ocean.  Most recently Wardle survived 50 days and nights 'Alone in The Wild', a ground-breaking television series for Channel 4 and National Geographic. He is also series producer and summit cameraman on Discovery Channel's acclaimed ‘Everest – Beyond The Limit’, now in its 3rd series. He has produced and filmed for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, National Geographic and the Discovery Channel. Wardle is also two times UK National Record holder in competitive freediving and competed with the British team in the AIDA world championships 2011. Lives London, 41 years of age.

 

 

Reserve Sailor Paul Swain: Experienced British sailor with qualifications in marine environmental science.  Paul has sailed for the past 25 years including countless English Channel crossing as well as a Trans-Atlantic crossing from Gran Canaria to St Lucia on a 39ft boat. Paul’s qualifications include RYA Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper and shortly, RYA Yachtmaster.  Paul has worked for the past nine years at Dean & Reddyhoff Marinas most recently as assistant manager for Portland Marina, the Venue for the 2012 Olympic Games. Lives Portland, UK, 27 years of age.