3Y0Z - DX Pedition - News

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K3LR and DX Engineering are thanking the 3Y0Z group for their effort and pledge continued support as they plan for a repeat attempt. Tim quotes K4UEE who notes after the 31-day voyage and having been so close to Bouvet they now have a better appreciation of the challenges.

K4UEE says "It is a dark, dismal and dangerous place. Yet, when the sun shines, it is magnificent." It was apparently especially difficult to leave when, on their departure morning the weather cleared, which would have made landing possible. But just the night before the ship captain had decided it was prudent to abort. Bob says the ship's mechanical failure could have brought disaster if men had been stranded ashore. A "suitable vessel" is being sought for a return trip "in the next year or two." DX Engineering particularly highlights their "custom designed and fabricated 90-foot top-loaded 160M vertical and support structures,".

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Bouvet Island DXpedition – 3YØZ

The 3YØZ team members are safely home. We have been home about two weeks now, after 31 days aboard our vessel M/V Betanzos.

We have been to Bouvet Island, and as a result, we have a better appreciation for the challenges we face. It is a dark, dismal and dangerous place. Yet, when the sun shines, it is magnificent.


The most difficult thing to reflect upon is the final day offshore, when we saw the island, crystal clear in calm winds, less than a mile away. The conditions were perfect for our first reconnaissance flight and possible landing of men and camp infrastructure. But, during the violent night before, the Captain had made the decision to abort. In retrospect, his call was clairvoyant. The mechanical, propulsion failure on the ship that occurred would have brought disaster, if it resulted in some of our men being stranded ashore.

We are sure you are wondering what happens now? Well, we are not the kind of people to give up. The same thing happened when we were trying to activate Peter I in 2005. We came back the following year and with DAP's (the vessel owner) help, we got it done.

We are optimistic about a fair settlement and a resulting refund of some of our money paid to DAP for this recent attempt to activate Bouvet. That money, and what we still have in the bank will allow us to begin making plans to try again. We have begun the difficult task of looking for a suitable vessel, and would hope to go back to Bouvet in the next year or two. Obviously, we will keep you informed.

Thank you for the hundreds of favorable and encouraging comments from our financial supporters and sponsors. No one has asked for any of their contributions back, and, in fact, many have offered additional support for the next chapter in this book. We are hopeful that those of you who have invested in this project will see fit to "roll over" your financial support to the next attempt.

So, if we can pull all the moving parts together, we are going to try it again.
Hopefully, this time, with a different outcome.

73, Bob, K4UEE

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3Y0Z DX Pedition pictures from Nodir Tursun Zade EY8MM

http://www.ey8mm.com/pictures/item/1...and-expedition

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3Y0Z Bouvet Island pictures Author Nodir Tursun Zade

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The “official” 3Y0Z team banner was signed and presented to the Capetown Amateur Radio Centre.

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THE BOUVET DXPEDITION TEAM IS SAFELY TUCKED AWAY FOR A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP IN CAPE TOWN & WILL BE OFFICIALLY WELCOMED ON SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY AT NOON. A Yacht owned by Robert ZS1FF, with HIS "CREW "of ZS1S, ZS1AN, ZS1FJ & ZS1AU escorted the ship into the CT Harbour where they ( THE SHIP !! ) was tied up safely.
IT WAS A FANTASTIC DAY & THE SCENERY WITH TABLE Mt., WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD.

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Finally, we see land. Just now coming to Cape Town harbor. Solid ground soon!

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3Y0Z News. January 17, 2018, 0900 UTC Aboard the M/V Betanzos:

The Cape of Good Hope is in site with Tabletop Mountain rising majestically above the sea. A tugboat shot a line to us to deliver updated local charts, and we are proceeding toward dry land. We’ve been at sea and aboard this vessel for over a month now. For some, this has been a difficult time, but now stability and dry land is on the horizon.

I’m not sure, but this may be our last update until we arrive safely at our homes. If it is, thank you once again to all of you for your support during this difficult time. We’ve enjoyed the “GL’s” and “dit-dits” during our 9,000+ maritime mobile QSOs. It was nice to have you riding with us.

Thank you and 73 —

Ralph – KØIR

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Radio Amateurs from Cape Town meeting 3Y0Z Team

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3Y0Z Bouvet Island News. February 16, 2018, 1320 UTC:
ETA at Capetown harbor is 0930 on Saturday morning. We understand that immigration and customs will come aboard at 1700, and we will likely be cleared to depart the vessel.
DAP has us all booked into a local hotel near the waterfront.
On Sunday, there will be a reception held at a local yacht club sponsored by a local radio club and numerous DXers.
We are very much looking forward to that and are certainly honored.
The first of the team will begin departing for home on Sunday night, and the majority will be on their way Monday evening/early Tuesday morning.
A few more will straggle out and be on their way home on Wednesday.
When we depart the vessel on Saturday, that will be our 31st day aboard the ship. Needless to say, we are ready to set foot on dry, un-moving ground once again.
Ralph and I are very proud of this team.
They have endured many hardships since departing home in early January.
They have been patient and resilient and good company.
There will be more updates in the future, as we begin to unravel this attempt and plan our subsequent strategy.
73, Bob, K4UEE