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28 June 2017
Press Release #6
In consultation with our new transportation partner Aerovias DAP, we continue to refine our plans for our Bouvet DXpedition. We expect to depart from King George Island, in the South Shetlands Islands on January 13, 2018. Our transit time to Bouvet will be between 9 and 11 days depending on weather and the sea state.
Upon arrival at Bouvet we will conduct reconnaissance flights to the island and select a campsite free of crevasses. As weather permits we will begin building our radio city on the ice and secure our infrastructure. Then antennas will go up, our equipment will be assembled and we will begin non-stop operations. We are planning to be at Bouvet for 21 days, and depending on weather and other factors we hope to be on the air for 14-16 days. Then we will return to either King George Island or Punta Arenas, Chile. All in all, we will be away from civilization for 6-7 weeks.
Final preparations continue this summer, and we still have a lot to do:
Equipment will be tested under simulated harsh conditions at the QTH of K9CT.
Antennas will be assembled, tested and packed for transit at the QTH of WB9Z.
The Sea Container will be packed and shipped from Atlanta the first week of October.
A team meeting will be held in Atlanta on Sept. 7-10. Topics to be discussed will include:
Safety
Helicopter operations
Site selection
Shelter erection and quick deploy plans
Weather
Escape plans and rescue.
Medical considerations
EME set-up and testing
Familiarization and operation of Flex Radios and Amplifiers
Propagation and our strategy
Operator scheduling
And….more.
Our fund-raising continues. We are pleased with our progress toward our goal of $740,500. The team has committed $400,000 cash as well as paying for their own transportation, food and hotel expenses. DX Clubs have stepped up and some have added additional contributions as have many individual DXers. However, we are still about $200,000 short. Please help if you can. We have a large payment due for the vessel and helicopters in several months.
Please check our website http://www.bouvetdx.org at periodically for updates and additions as we progress toward departure. You can also join our Facebook group http://ift.tt/2qV8sCj
For the 3YØZ team,
Ralph-K0IR
Bob-K4UEE
Erling-LA6VM
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7 May 2017
Press Release #5
The Bouvet Island DXpedition team (3YØZ), is pleased to make an important announcement about our transportation plans to Bouvet Island.
From the beginning, we have worked with Nigel Jolly to secure safe, reliable, and affordable transportation to Bouvet. We both have struggled with the costs involved in getting Nigel’s ship and a helicopter from New Zealand to the tip of South America to begin the voyage to Bouvet. Together, we have been working to find alternatives while Nigel’s vessel, the Claymore II stood ready for our use if we could not find a suitable alternative. We are announcing today that we have found an alternate vessel that eliminates the repositioning costs and at the same time adds additional margins of safety for our team.
DAP, a Chilean maritime and aviation company that took some of us to Peter I in 2006, recently acquired a vessel that is perfect for our DXpedition to Bouvet. This company also has a fleet of 16 helicopters. Bob, K4UEE, and George, N4GRN, have just returned from Punta Arenas, Chile where they inspected the vessel, the helicopters and discussed our requirements with DAP. Nigel Jolly supplied us with a checklist to be used while inspecting DAP’s vessel and helicopter capabilities
Based on our observations, and our discussions, and based on DAP’s reputation and our personal history with DAP; we feel we have found a sound alternative and optimum means of transportation to Bouvet. DAP’s ship is somewhat larger than Nigel’s vessel, and they have offered us two helicopters instead of only one. They are both medium duty, twin engine BO-105 helicopters. We will also have two pilots and mechanics with years of Antarctic flying experience. The ship is being re-fitted with a hanger to house those two helicopters during transit and poor weather conditions..
The vessel’s Captain and crew have sailed the vessel for many years and have been retained by DAP. Interestingly, one of the crew members that will accompany us to Bouvet is Alejo Contreras Staeding. He is a well known Antarctic explorer, guide, glaciologist and adventurer. We met him in 2006 on the way to Peter I. We are extremely pleased to have him join us.
We have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with DAP and a formal contract is being drafted. We will review that contract with Nigel, and expect to sign it soon. This is an important step, as the new vessel and the capabilities of DAP will fully complement our team. This is a winning partnership that helps assure not only safety for our team, but an excellent chance of a very successful DXpedition under the extreme circumstances we are expecting.
Our departure will be approximately mid-January, 2018, possibly sailing to Bouvet from King George Island. We expect 9-11 day voyage to Bouvet. When the weather allows, we will land on the island by helicopter. Our first priority will be to inspect the terrain, select a site clear of crevasses and establish our shelters stocked with emergency supplies. Once secured, we will bring the rest of our equipment ashore and commence radio operations as soon as possible. We expect to be at Bouvet for 21 days, and allowing for weather, hope to be on the air for 14-16 days.
This is likely the most expensive DXpedition ever attempted and the operating team has committed to fund up to 50% of the costs. We are hopeful the DX community will fund the remainder. You may follow our planning progress and see our fund-raisings results on our website www.bouvetdx.org.
73,
Ralph-K0IR
Bob-K4UEE
Erling-LA6VM
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1 May 2017
Ralph K0IR informs DxCoffee readers:
“Here is a little announcement for DX Coffee —
Propagation predictions in video format are now available on the Bouvet Island DXpedition website: www.bouvetdx.org Simple click on the menu item at top of the home page.
Thank you, my friend.”
73 –
Ralph – K0IR
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07 December 2016
PRESS RELEASE #3
Bouvet Island DXpedition 2018
The Bouvet Island DXpedition Team is happy to report the following:
After extensive examination, we have found a suitable landing zone on Bouvet Island and have identified what appears to be the best operating location in the area. Our proposed site is at 540 24’ 23” South and 30 24’ 39” East at approximately 600 ft. ASL. This is on the Slakhallet Glacier on the northeast quadrant of Bouvet. It is relatively flat with areas of maximum slope not exceeding 8 degrees. This is well below slope levels that are prone to avalanches. We have less information on the presence of crevasses, but do not detect any on the highest resolution images that we have. Of course, an on-site inspection upon our initial helicopter landing will determine our actual operating location.
We have researched and selected our Antarctic shelters. These four shelters will house our stations, our sleeping quarters, and our eating and meeting facility (the MEG tent). These were selected to survive the high winds, precipitation, and temperatures expected on Bouvet. We will heat our operating shelter and the MEG tent. Our sleeping shelters will not be heated for safety reasons.
The ten HF beams that served us so well on Amsterdam Island (FT5ZM) will accompany us to Bouvet. We intend to deploy them on a line along 2400 to 600. This will keep the antennas from beaming into each other when aimed at Europe, Japan, and North America. Our verticals for 160, 80, 60, 40, and 30 meters will be placed to minimize interaction. Images of our antenna plans, shelter layouts, and shelter interiors are on our website.
The Japanese support team has reorganized and will be led by Hiro, JA4DND. Joe, JJ3PRT, will be our new pilot for Japan. JA4BUA, Kuwa, will be in charge of web and IT duties, and JK1KSB, Oku, will do our public relations. In addition, we’ve added a VK-ZL-Oceania pilot, VK6VZ.
Our on-line store has opened! You can now shop at Café Press for 3Y0Z souvenirs — mugs, hats, cups, T-shirts, etc. You can purchase fun and usable products and at the same time…support the 3Y0Z team. (http://ift.tt/2hdxDPb)
Our Facebook page, 3Y0Z-Bouvet Island DXpedition, now has over 1500 followers. Stop by for photos, articles, updates, and meeting fellow DXers.
Fundraising is an on-going process for us. This is a demanding and expensive project;
possibly the most expensive DXpedition ever. We ask for your financial support. Please click on our “Donate” buttons on our website and help us make this happen.
The Bouvet Island DXpedition-2018 Team wishes you and your families a wonderful Holiday season and a New Year filled with DX!
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5 December 2016
A message to DX’ers About 3Y0Z – in English, Spanish, Deutsch, Greek, French, Russian and Italian
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24 September 2016
Ralph K0IR, Erling LA6VM and Bob K4UEE informs DxCoffee readers:
PRESS RELEASE #3
Bouvet Island DXpedition 2018
September 23, 2016
The 20-member Bouvet Island DXpedition team is happy to report that our longstanding landing permit (2007) has been updated and revised to conform to current environmental protection regulations, planned landing and helicopter operations, base camp set-up, dates of operation, and operating plans. The updated document has received signatorial approval of the Norsk Polar Institute. Our amateur radio license with the call sign 3YØZ has also been renewed and will be used during the Bouvet DXpedition 2018.
An international team of pilots has been selected to serve as an interface between the DXpedition team and the DX audience worldwide. They are your voice and will collect your feedback and information during the DXpedition and relay it to the team on Bouvet. Those pilots are:
NV9L (Val) Chief Pilot
HK3W (Siso) South America Pilot
JA1WSX (Hiro) Asia-Oceania Pilot
K2SG (Tony) North America Pilot
ON9CFG (Bjorn) European Pilot
ZS2I (Johan) Africa Pilot
Foundations, DX clubs, corporate sponsors, and individuals have shown enthusiastic support for the Bouvet Island DXpedition. This DXpedition is an expensive project with team members bearing 50% of its total cost. Your financial support is encouraged and welcomed to help us make this happen. Please see our list of donors and sponsors and learn how you can help on our website at: www.bouvetdx.org
73, For the TEAM,
Ralph-K0IR
Bob-K4UEE
Erling-LA6VM
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19 August 2016
3Y0Z, a great Team
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10 August 2016
3Y0Z Bouvet Island DXpedition 2018, IOTA AN – 002.
Team: Franz DJ9ZB, Nodir EY8MM, Jorge HK1R, Ralph K0IR, Robert K4UEE, Craig K9CT, Erling LA6VM, Geroge N4GRN, Arnold N6HC, James N9TK, Jeffrey NM1Y, Michael PA5M, Andrew UA3AB, Robert VA7DX, John VE7CT, Glenn W0GJ, Gregg W6IZT, Hal W8HC and Jerry WB9Z.
QSL via N2OO.
Visit the official web site http://ift.tt/2bSFQC2
from Ham Radio Times http://ift.tt/2qwVXgp
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