Jock Wishart
Encyclopedia
Jock Wishart is a maritime and polar adventurer, sportsman and explorer. Until his successful 2011 Old Pulteney Row To The Pole
, he was been best known for his circumnavigation of the globe in a powered vessel, setting a new world record in the Cable & Wireless Adventurer a and for organising and leading the Polar Race
.
In 2010 he announced his latest expedition: his intention to take a rowing boat to the certified 1996 position of the Geomagnetic North Pole (The position is 78°35.7N 104°11.9W). At the time, Wishart described how it has only become possible to consider an attempt like this in recent years due to the increase in seasonal sea ice melt and the much-documented changes to the Arctic climate.
His expedition, The Old Pulteney Row To The Pole voyage, set out on July 28th 2011 from Resolute Bay
, Nunavut
, Canada
, to travel 450 miles. At the , Wishart described the timing of the expedition as being crucial because the final section of the journey is only navigable for a few weeks of the year before refreezing. Daily Telegraph: Explorers begin attempt to row to North-Pole
Wishart said of his latest expedition: "It is hard to imagine that in the 21st century there are still parts of our oceans that have never been explored. This is truly a voyage into the unknown - within 60 nautical miles of the start of our voyage; we will be taking The Old Pulteney through waters that have may never been navigated by any surface vessel."
On August 25th 2011 at 1830 hours Wishart's boat reached this Pole position. He announced the success saying: "There is now a row boat at a the '96 Mag. North Pole"
He has written on the expedition's diary blog at www.rowtothepole.com
in south west Scotland
at the academy
there and at the University of Durham (Bede College).
to Barbados
.
, left Gibraltar
on 19 April 1998 on their 26,000-mile worldwide journey. The journey encompassed 15 ports in 10 countries, and the intention was to complete the journey inside 80 days. The team ultimately broke the powered world record, previously held by the nuclear submarine USS Triton
, by completing the circumnavigation in 74 days, 20 hours and 58 minutes. This beat the previous record by more than seven days.
The U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine
USS Triton
completed the first submerged circumnavigation of the world
in 60 days 21 minutes, between February 24 and April 25, 1960, covering 26723 nmi (49,491 km; 30,752.4 mi) at the average speed of 18 kn (35.3 km/h; 21.9 mph) non-stop.
organised The Ultimate Challenge, in which they chose 10 arctic novices from over 500 applicants and successfully led them to the Magnetic North Pole.
Following the success of this expedition, which proved that novices could be trained and equipped for a Polar expedition, the two men established The Polar Race. The first Polar Race was April 2003. Before April, it's too dark and after April there's open water. Since 2003, the race has been run every other year: 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011. As of May 2007, three races have been run with 40 out of 41 competitors successfully reaching the Pole. In the ensuing two races, every competitor reached the North Pole.
Old Pulteney Row To The Pole
The Old Pulteney Row To The Pole is an expedition which successfully navigated a rowing boat to the North Magnetic Pole at 78°35.7N 104°11.9W, the position certified in 1996. It is believed to be the only polar expedition to feature rowing boats since the crew of Sir Ernest Shackleton's row to...
, he was been best known for his circumnavigation of the globe in a powered vessel, setting a new world record in the Cable & Wireless Adventurer a and for organising and leading the Polar Race
Polar Race
The Polar Race is a biennial race from Resolute, Nunavut in northern Canada to the Magnetic North Pole. Teams of two, three or four walk/ski 350 miles pulling their food and equipment on sleds. Although not unsupported, there are strict rules on the carrying of equipment, with only food, fuel and...
.
In 2010 he announced his latest expedition: his intention to take a rowing boat to the certified 1996 position of the Geomagnetic North Pole (The position is 78°35.7N 104°11.9W). At the time, Wishart described how it has only become possible to consider an attempt like this in recent years due to the increase in seasonal sea ice melt and the much-documented changes to the Arctic climate.
His expedition, The Old Pulteney Row To The Pole voyage, set out on July 28th 2011 from Resolute Bay
Resolute Bay
Resolute Bay is an Arctic waterway in Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is located in Parry Channel on the southern side of Cornwallis Island. The hamlet of Resolute is located on the northern shore of the bay and Resolute Bay Airport to the northwest...
, Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, to travel 450 miles. At the , Wishart described the timing of the expedition as being crucial because the final section of the journey is only navigable for a few weeks of the year before refreezing. Daily Telegraph: Explorers begin attempt to row to North-Pole
Wishart said of his latest expedition: "It is hard to imagine that in the 21st century there are still parts of our oceans that have never been explored. This is truly a voyage into the unknown - within 60 nautical miles of the start of our voyage; we will be taking The Old Pulteney through waters that have may never been navigated by any surface vessel."
On August 25th 2011 at 1830 hours Wishart's boat reached this Pole position. He announced the success saying: "There is now a row boat at a the '96 Mag. North Pole"
He has written on the expedition's diary blog at www.rowtothepole.com
Early years
Jock Wishart was educated in DumfriesDumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
in south west Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
at the academy
Dumfries Academy
Dumfries Academy is one of four secondary schools in the town of Dumfries in South West Scotland.-History:Dumfries Academy has existed in its present form, though not in the buildings it currently occupies, since 1804...
there and at the University of Durham (Bede College).
Americas cup
Jock Wishart sailed as a grinder on Lionheart, the 1980 British challenger for the America's Cup.North pole expeditions
Jock Wishart has twice trekked to the North Pole in record-setting expeditions.Transatlantic row boating
In 1997 Wishart and team mate Duncan Nicoll placed 10th in a trans-Atlantic rowboat race from the Canary IslandsCanary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
to Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
.
Record breaking circumnavigation of the globe in a powered vessel
Wishart and his crew on the Cable & Wireless AdventurerOcean 7 Adventurer
MV Brigitte Bardot is a unique high-tech 35 m stabilized monohull twin diesel engine powered vessel designed by Nigel Irens. Construction of the Adventurer began in June 1997 and she was launched on 16 March 1998...
, left Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
on 19 April 1998 on their 26,000-mile worldwide journey. The journey encompassed 15 ports in 10 countries, and the intention was to complete the journey inside 80 days. The team ultimately broke the powered world record, previously held by the nuclear submarine USS Triton
USS Triton
USS Triton may refer to:, a tug in commission from 1889 to 1930, a tug that served briefly during 1918, a submarine commissioned in 1940 and sunk in 1943, later SSN-586, a submarine in commission from 1959 to 1969See also...
, by completing the circumnavigation in 74 days, 20 hours and 58 minutes. This beat the previous record by more than seven days.
The U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine
Nuclear submarine
A nuclear submarine is a submarine powered by a nuclear reactor . The performance advantages of nuclear submarines over "conventional" submarines are considerable: nuclear propulsion, being completely independent of air, frees the submarine from the need to surface frequently, as is necessary for...
USS Triton
USS Triton (SSRN-586)
USS Triton , a United States Navy nuclear-powered radar picket submarine, was the first vessel to execute a submerged circumnavigation of the Earth , doing so in early 1960. Triton accomplished this objective during her shakedown cruise while under the command of Captain Edward L. "Ned" Beach, Jr...
completed the first submerged circumnavigation of the world
Operation Sandblast
Operation Sandblast was the code name for the first submerged circumnavigation of the world executed by the U.S. Navy nuclear-powered radar picket submarine in 1960 while under the command of Captain Edward L. Beach, USN...
in 60 days 21 minutes, between February 24 and April 25, 1960, covering 26723 nmi (49,491 km; 30,752.4 mi) at the average speed of 18 kn (35.3 km/h; 21.9 mph) non-stop.
The Polar Race
In 1996, Wishart and David Hempleman-AdamsDavid Hempleman-Adams
David Kim Hempleman-Adams, LVO, OBE, CStJ, DL is a British adventurer.He is the first person in history to reach the Geographic and Magnetic North and South Poles as well as climb the highest peaks in all seven continents; the Adventurers' Grand Slam...
organised The Ultimate Challenge, in which they chose 10 arctic novices from over 500 applicants and successfully led them to the Magnetic North Pole.
Following the success of this expedition, which proved that novices could be trained and equipped for a Polar expedition, the two men established The Polar Race. The first Polar Race was April 2003. Before April, it's too dark and after April there's open water. Since 2003, the race has been run every other year: 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011. As of May 2007, three races have been run with 40 out of 41 competitors successfully reaching the Pole. In the ensuing two races, every competitor reached the North Pole.