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SY Aurora SIB by Glen McGuire - 1/500

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SY Aurora SIB by Glen McGuire - 1/500
Glen McGuire
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Glen McGuire
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The SY Aurora was a barque-rigged steam yacht built in Scotland in 1876.  Launched originally as a whaler, it was purchased in 1910 by Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson for his Australasia Antarctic Expedition.  Thereafter, the Aurora became arguably the most reliable ship during the golden age of Antarctic exploration. 

 

Between 1911 and 1917, it made five trips to the continent, four under the command of Captain John King “Gloomy” Davis.  The only Antarctic voyage not under his command almost ended in disaster after the ship got caught in pack ice supporting the Ross Sea Party of Ernest Shackleton’s Trans-Antarctic Expedition.  King returned to command for the subsequent rescue mission of the ill-fated party.  The Aurora disappeared in 1917 on a cargo run delivering coal to Chile.  It is suspected that the ship was a late casualty of World War I.  

 

My presentation of the Aurora is a tribute to Captain Davis and Sir Douglas Mawson for their extraordinary leadership and heroism during the Australasia Antarctic Expedition.  It highlights the ship and the treacherous pack ice that Captain Davis’ navigated as well as the man-hauling sledges that Mawson and team used during their multi-hundred mile exploratory treks across sastrugi.         

4 Comments

Keith Black

 Glenn, I really enjoyed following you along on the Aurora build. It was a fun trip to journey's end, great subject, beautiful SIB. 

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Glen McGuire

Thank you, Keith!  I appreciate you being there the whole way and providing comments, suggestions, and further insight into these steam-sail ships.  They are such fascinating subjects!

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Glen McGuire

Thank you, Mike, for all the comments and encouragement during the build - especially with the railings.  Seeing what you did with your Shimakaze and Yaeyama builds was a big help.  

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