CTARC Heard Island DXpedition - Mar '16

Some very exciting news is that a world-class DXpedition is planned to embark from Cape Town in 2016.

The DXpedition is a major scientific / communications expedition to Heard Island, an Australian sub-Antarctic island lying at 53°S 73°E. The location is very isolated and subject to extreme weather conditions. Consequently, it is infrequently visited - it was last activated as a DX entity 19 years ago in 1997 where a station was set up at Atlas Cove.

Paul Johnson / ZS1S, (and recent DXpeditioner to Tristan da Cunha as ZD9ZS), has joined the South African Support Team as Team Leader. Paul also will add friends and members of the local Cape Town ham radio clubs (including the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre), and Paul’s good friend and fellow DX-er Dennis Wells / ZS1AU. Paul and Dennis join Pierre / ZS1HF (ex ZS8M) and Mal /  ZS6MAL on this key critical support team.

The Heard Island 2016 DXpedition, consisting of top DX operators, will embark from Cape Town on the m/v "Braveheart", usually based in Wellington NZ. This vessel has already featured in other DXpeditions as well. The voyage is scheduled for March 6 – April 20, 2016, with the amateur radio operation taking place on about March 16 – April 8.

The group hopes to make as many as 150 000 contacts with 50 000 possible radio ham stations worldwide during the DXpedition. The official callsign will be VK0EK.

The official website is here.You can subscribe to the VK0EK newsletter here.

Paul / ZS1S