Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

The Ship

Map showing the track of the Scotia in the Weddell Sea

This chart shows the track of the exploration ship SY Scotia in the Weddell Sea during the 1902-1904 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition under the leadership of William S Bruce.

Leaving the Falklands on 26 January 1903, the vessel headed south-east toward the South Orkney Islands. On 4 February 1903 a landing was made on Saddle Island. After making generally easterly progress along the edge of the pack ice toward the Sandwich Islands, a turn to the south proved possible, enabling progress to a maximum of 70°25'S on 27 February 1903.

A north-westerly retreat to the South Orkney Islands in search of suitable winter quarters ended in a fairly sheltered bay on the south side of Laurie Island on 25 March 1903.