ZS8W (DXCC: Prince Edward & Marion Is., IOTA: AF-021), April 27 - May 13, 2025
NCDXF included the story of ZS8W in their Summer 2025 newsletter.
ZS8W story has been published.
ARRL approval and LoTW certificate for ZS8W are obtained. Full LoTW upload will be done on August 15, 2025.
Yuris/YL2GM has reached home. Some photos added.
ZS8W is QRT now. Yuris is back on the ship S.A. Agulhas II, which will depart to South Africa on May 14.
31672 QSOs in the log.
First Clublog upload done. Over 1100 QSOs in the log.
Yuris operates by strictly observing all requirements applicable in this Special Nature Reserve. He stops any transmissions whenever required to allow scientific measurements to take place.
As expected for such a remote location, Internet is very weak and available only in certain spots in the base. No internet is available in the vicinity of the radio.
In the morning of April 27th Yuris reached the shore. First QSOs were made in the afternoon.
As of 13:00 UTC April 23 Yuris remains on the ship. Still no information about the start of disembarkation. So far only pirates are on the air and DX clusters, don't bother to work them. Information will be provided when Yuris makes it to the shore or when plans become known.
S.A. Agulhas II has reached Marion island. But it is not clear yet, when disembarkation will start.
Below the photo of Marion island done by Yuris from the ship earlier today.
S.A. Agulhas II has passed the halfway point to Marion island. It is likely that Yuris will not reach the shore of Marion island sooner than April 23rd. As getting from the ship to the island will take time too.
The ship S.A. Agulhas II departed from the port of Cape Town in the afternoon of April 18, one day later than initially planned.
After several repeated unsuccessful attempts since 2018 to obtain the necessary permits to visit Marion island and operate from there, Yuris/YL2GM finally has got it! He is currently onboard the ship mv S.A. Agulhas II scheduled to depart from Cape Town, South Africa, towards Marion island on April 17.
Yuris will operate from Marion island as ZS8W between April 21 and May 16, 2025.
Prince Edward & Marion Is. are listed as #11 in Clublog's DXCC Most Wanted List as of April 2025.
Yuris will be on the Marion island as radio engineer and stay there for the above mentioned period of time, when this year's annual supply replenishment and exchange of overwintering personnel of the SANAP station is taking place.
NCDXF is the general supporter of Yuris participation in this event.
By the way, you can follow the job vacancies on SANAP website and may be join the overwintering team next year.
Past DX peditions by Yuris/YL2GM.