Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

People of the Expedition

Sailmaker at work on deck of polar exploration ship

Long voyages on sailing-ships required the presence on board, in addition to the normal crew of mariners, of persons skilled in various occupations. A doctor, for example, would be virtually essential on a voyage which was expected to be away from a convenient port-of-call for any great length of time.

By their very nature, polar expeditions were in this category, and indeed it was this need which enabled Dr. William Bruce to make his first polar voyage, with the Dundee Antarctic Expedition of 1892-93.

General trades, such as blacksmith, would also be required, but some skills, such as sail-making, were specifically related to sailing-ships. The sail-maker here would have been kept busy repairing damage caused by the severe Antarctic weather.