“At three pm. we were but 10 miles from land when it was observed that row as strenuously as we could, we were making no headway. This disheartening circumstance was caused by a strong tidal current…As evening drew on, the wind increased to a gale, raising a big cross sea, and taxing to the limit the exhausted capacities of the party. Seas raked the boats and icy sprays hurled by the wind struck one’s face like a whip. The carpenter, through exhaustion, fell asleep at the tiller, allowing a big sea to come on board, and Wild, after an unbroken spell of 24 hours, took his place… Several times we lost sight of the Wills, which we were towing, thinking she had foundered, when she would suddenly emerge from the blackness of the sea on a white crest as we would glide into a deep gulf. I enjoyed the fascination of this wild scene, exulting in our mastery over this savage elemental display. With dawn’s first light, land was observed…”

— Frank Hurley