Polar explorer, adventurer and boatbuilder Jarlath Cunnane describes building a replica of the James Caird, the Shackleton Antarctic expedition lifeboat, in an attempt to commemorate the Scots carpenter Henry 'Chippy' McNish, who was a member of the TransAntarctic Expedition 1914-1917. The modifications that McNish made to the Caird enabled it to weather the epic 800-mile voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia which Shackleton and five of his crew undertook after their ship, Endurance, was crushed by pack ice.

Jarlath attempted to repeat Shackleton's epic voyage in 1997 in an earlier replica that he had to abandon in the Southern Ocean when capsized by hurricane strength winds. He then went on to build the legendary 47' expedition yacht, Northabout, in which he, together with his adventurous fellow countrymen, transited both the NW and NE Passages.

Winner of multiple prestigious sailing awards, Jarlath was made an Honorary Member of the Ocean Cruising Club in April 2021.
OCC