Our way was across the open sea, and soon after noon we swung round the north end of the pack and laid a course to the westward, the 'James Caird' still in the lead.

Immediately our deeply laden boats began to make heavy weather.

They shipped sprays, which, freezing as they fell, covered men and gear with ice, and soon it was clear that we could not safely proceed.

I put the 'James Caird' round and ran for the shelter of the pack again, the other boats following.

Back inside the outer line of ice the sea was not breaking.