RRS Discovery

The RRS Discovery was one of the last traditional wooden, 3-masted ships to be built in Britain. It was designed specifically for scientific exploration of the Antarctic. 

The ship set off from Dundee, Scotland, in 1901, and carried explorers Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton, several scientists and more than 30 crew members on the British National Antarctic Expedition. The expedition carried out important research in biology, zoology, meteorology, geology and magnetism.

In 1901, Antarctica was still a mostly unexplored continent – an intimidating wilderness. Getting there was a treacherous journey across hostile seas. The aim of the 1901 British National Antarctic Expedition was scientific discovery rather than reaching the South Pole.

Dundee’s shipyard built ships for whaling, for which they had to be robust to navigate through Arctic ice. Based on these whaling ships, the RRS Discovery was the first ship built for scientific research. 

Robert Falcon Scott joined the Navy at 13. As “Scott of the Antarctic”, he was one of the most famous Polar explorers. He died trying to reach the South Pole in a later expedition in 1912. 

The Discovery was built as a sailing ship, with engines to provide additional power when needed. Sails were necessary because it wouldn’t have been possible to store enough coal to power the long journey to the Antarctic.

The kitchen aboard a ship is called the galley. From the Discovery’s galley, cook Charles Clarke served up 3 meals a day to the men on the ship, though they weren’t always pleased with what they got. Officers and crew ate at different times, though they got exactly the same meals. The fire in the galley was never allowed to go out, which meant it was the warmest place on the ship.  

The expedition lasted 3 years, and food had to last a long time. This meant it was all dried, tinned, bottled or pickled. The men added mustard and spices to try to make meals taste more interesting. 

The cook prepares a rare treat – meat. Live sheep were carried on board the Discovery and slaughtered in Antarctica. They also hunted animals on the expedition, including seals, penguins and even skua  – a kind of seabird.

Freshwater supplies are very important at sea – salty seawater is no good for drinking. Luckily, the Antarctic provided as much as the men needed in the form of ice, though cutting blocks from glaciers was backbreaking work.

Blackwall was one of 2 cats on board the Discovery (the other was called Poplar). Cats were often taken on long boat expeditions because they hunt mice and rats that attack food supplies and spread disease.