The weather was fine on April 23, and we hurried forward our preparations.  It was on this day I decided finally that the crew for the ‘James Caird’ should consist of Worsley, Crean, McNeish, McCarthy, Vincent, and myself.  A storm came on about noon, with driving snow and heavy squalls.  Occasionally the air would clear for a few minutes, and we could see a line of pack-ice, five miles out, driving across from west to east.  This sight increased my anxiety to get away quickly.  Winter was advancing, and soon the pack might close completely round the island and stay our departure for days or even for weeks, I did not think that ice would remain around Elephant Island continuously during the winter, since the strong winds and fast currents would keep it in motion.  We had noticed ice and bergs, going past at the rate of four or five knots.  A certain amount of ice was held up about the end of our spit, but the sea was clear where the boat would have to be launched.

Worsley, Wild, and I climbed to the summit of the seaward rocks and examined the ice from a better vantage-point than the beach offered.  The belt of pack outside appeared to be sufficiently broken for our purposes, and I decided that, unless the conditions forbade it, we would make a start in the ‘James Caird’ on the following morning.  Obviously the pack might close at any time.  This decision made, I spent the rest of the day looking over the boat, gear, and stores, and discussing plans with Worsley and Wild.

Our last night on the solid ground of Elephant Island was cold and uncomfortable.  We turned out at dawn and had breakfast.  Then we launched the ‘Stancomb Wills’ and loaded her with stores, gear, and ballast, which would be transferred to the ‘James Caird’ when the heavier boat had been launched.  The ballast consisted of bags made from blankets and filled with sand, making a total weight of about 1000 lbs.  In addition we had gathered a number of round boulders and about 250 lbs. of ice, which would supplement our two casks of water.

The stores taken in the ‘James Caird’, which would last six men for one month, were as follows: 

   30 boxes of matches.
    6½ gallons paraffin.
    1 tin methylated spirit.
   10 boxes of flamers.
    1 box of blue lights.
    2 Primus stoves with spare parts and prickers.
    1 Nansen aluminium cooker.
    6 sleeping-bags. 
   A few spare socks. 
   A few candles and some blubber-oil in an oil-bag.

Food: 

     3 cases sledging rations = 300 rations.
     2 cases nut food = 200 "
     2 cases biscuits = 600 biscuits.
     1 case lump sugar.
    30 packets of Trumilk.
     1 tin. of Bovril cubes.
     1 tin of Cerebos salt.
    36 gallons of water.
   250 lbs. of ice.

Instruments: 

   Sextant. 
   Sea-anchor. 
   Binoculars. 
   Charts. 
   Prismatic compass. 
   Aneroid.