The REAL David Legge Brainard

From the story:

We repeatedly emphasized that we were aboard a small 8-meter sailboat, but the response was the same each time: "We are a 50-meter three-masted sailboat, and we offer our assistance in towing you to Paimpol." We were perplexed by the size difference between our two boats, as we feared being towed by a boat that was too large and at too fast a speed that could damage our boat. The arrival of the Götheborg on the scene was rapid and surprising, as we did not expect to see a merchant ship from the East India Company of the XVIII century. This moment was very strange, and we wondered if we were dreaming. Where were we? What time period was it? The Götheborg approached very close to us to throw the line and pass a large rope. The mooring went well, and our destinies were linked for very long hours, during which we shared the same radio frequency to communicate with each other. The crew of the Götheborg showed great professionalism and kindness towards us. They adapted their speed to the size of our boat and the weather conditions. We felt accompanied by very professional sailors. Every hour, the officer on duty of the Götheborg called us to ensure everything was going well.[...] This adventure, very real, was an incredible experience for us. We were extremely lucky to cross paths with the Götheborg by chance and especially to meet such a caring crew. Dear commander and crew of the Götheborg, your kindness, and generosity have shown that your ship is much more than just a boat. It embodies the noblest values of the sea, and we are honored to have had the chance to cross your path and benefit from your help.

I have been working on this project for a while but have been concerned about posting it until I figured out all of the copyright surrounding it.

Linked below is a full transcription of “The Arctic Moon” the newspaper kept by the 1881-1884 Lady Franklin Bay Polar Expedition. This has been a labour of love, passion and frankly a bit of anxiety over transcribing it to its full potential.

If you have the opportunity please take a look at it I would be so grateful. I hope you find it as interesting to read as I did to transcribe.

In each Issue I have included the full transcription, notes on the transcription and citations so you can do your own reading if interested.

I hope to post again soon with further research!