AMBITIOUS plans were revealed yesterday for an expedition to Antarctica which would rescue a North East explorer from historical obscurity.
The £3.5m project involves the building in Blyth in Northumberland of a modern- day version of a sailing ship owned and skippered by captain William Smith.
William Smith was born in Seaton Sluice, near Blyth, in 1790, spending his early working years at sea in the East Coast coal trade and then probably in the sealing and whaling fleet
He lived in Bedlington and his sailing brig, The Williams, was built in Blyth.
On a voyage to South America he discovered the South Shetlands in the Southern Ocean in 1819 and the following year he made the first sighting of the Antarctic landmass.
But after his historic discovery he died in obscurity and the voyage and his achievement are currently unrecognised, says Paul Cosgrove, director of the Williams Expedition project.
“Few people realise that Antarctica was discovered by a captain from the North East and from a ship built in Blyth,” said Mr Cosgrove, head of product at Ashington-based mountain clothing business Montane, one of the backers of the project.
The plan is to mark the 200th anniversary of Smith’s achievement in 2019 by sailing the two-masted version of his ship, crewed largely by local young people, on a replica of his voyage of discovery. The Williams Expedition has explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and the Duchess of Northumberland as honorary patrons and is also backed by Paul Rose, vice president of the Royal Geographical Society.
Mr Cosgrove said that Blyth boat building firm Alnmaritec had agreed to construct the steel-hulled vessel.
The timetable is 18 months to raise the funding, 18 months to two years to build the ship, and another 18 months for sea trails and crew selection and training.
The project is also supported by the Port of Blyth, and Newcastle University is interested in being represented on the voyage to carry out scientific work.
Mr Cosgrove said the journey would include Buenos Aires, the South Shetlands, Valparaiso in Chile, the Galapagos Islands and Antarctica near Elephant Island.
The expedition plans are going ahead under the umbrella of the charity the Blyth Tall Ship community venture whose workshop provides training in boat building skills.
The charity’s Clive Gray, who is expedition chairman, said: “The Williams Expedition represents a celebration of global importance and I am honoured to have a high quality team and community backing to make this happen.
“We can put a forgotten hero back in his rightful place in history and demonstrate North East design and build engineering skills on a world stage.
“It is also a life-changing chance for young people in Northumberland, who are struggling to find their feet in the current job market, to show just what they are capable of.”
Mr Cosgrove added: “William Smith was an incredible character.
“We have spent the last year putting together this proposition and we have a very good network in place. This expedition is a very exciting project not only for Blyth but the whole of the North East.
“Very few people are aware that we have such an incredible link with Antarctica and that Captain William Smith deserves to be a local hero.
“What better way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first sighting of Antarctica by rebuilding the ship and recreating the voyage?
“We hope this tall ship and the expedition will shine a light on the whole of the North of England and beyond.”
Expedition president Paul Rose said: “The Williams Expedition is a very exciting project and will inspire a young generation. It has the potential to transform lives by connecting through historical legacy a North Sea port with the truly incredible continent of Antarctica.”
The expedition ship would be based at Blyth on its return and wold be used for training and further voyages.
