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The son of the late yachtsman Sir Peter Blake is heading to Antarctica to fulfil a pledge his father made to help save the historic huts near Scott Base.
James Blake, 19, is in Christchurch preparing for a six-week trip to work on the three huts used by Antarctic explorers Sir Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott, near Scott Base.
Blake will work as a general hand alongside conservation carpenters and professional conservators for the Christchurch-based Antarctic Heritage Trust.
He said he appreciated the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Sir Ernest Shackleton was renowned as a great leader of men and was one of my father's heroes," he said.
"It's a great privilege to be able to contribute to a programme that helps save his legacy for future generations."
Sir Peter Blake was murdered by South American pirates while sailing on the Amazon on a trip on his yacht Seamaster in 2001.
The trip had included a visit to Antarctica.
Antarctic Heritage Trust executive director Nigel Watson said James Blake would fulfil the pledge his father had made to help the trust with its work on the huts.
"Before his expedition to the Antarctic peninsula and in anticipation of an expedition to Antarctica's Ross Sea, Sir Peter had offered to assist the trust in any way that he could," Mr Watson said.
"Given he never made the planned journey to the Ross Sea, it is fitting and very special that James can participate now."
- NZPA
