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PJ6Y Saba Island

PJ6Y Team will be active from Saba Island, IOTA NA - 145, 17 - 29 October 2025.
Team - W6IZT, W2FQ, K4NHW, KD9LSV, W7YED, OM8ATE, KK8C, PC2Y, N4XTT, YO9LIG, YO8YL, KK7EXT.
Recent DX Spots PJ6Y
PJ6Y Log search They will operate on HF Bands, including activity in CQ WW DX SSB Contest, 25 - 26 October 2025.
Previous activity:

PJ6Y. Radio Amateurs members of KB8OCP Davel Kalter Memorial Youth DX Adventure Team will be active from Saba Island (IOTA NA-145) 2 - 9 August 2016 as PJ6Y.
Team - KD8ZLK (11 year old), KM4LAO (17 year old YL), AE4FH (11 year old YL).
Support team - KD8YPY, KM4TVU, WX4TV.
They will operate on HF Bands from PJ6/NM1Y station.
QSL via N6JRL.
Ads for direct QSL:
DONALD J DUBON, 441 LEWISTON RD., KETTERING, OH 45429, USA.

Saba Island

The small island of Saba (or Saiba, as the locals call it) is part of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. In addition to its interesting origin and gorgeous landscape on the eastern, windward side, the island is famous for some other extraordinary moments. But let's start with the history.

Saba Island PJ6YSaba Island. Author - Stephen Martin.

Columbus is the discoverer again, but there is a “but”

According to historical data, just under 1,500 years ago Saba was inhabited by Arawak tribes. And the first European representative who discovered the island was none other than Christopher Columbus. True, he landed on the island, whether he did not consider it necessary, or whether these thirteen square kilometers of land is not so interested in the traveler, but the main version of such inattention Columbus to Saba is considered an understanding of the navigator that the steep rocky coastline is unlikely to serve as a good place for mooring. Columbus' ship calmly skirted the steep rocky shore of Saba.

And if not for the interest of the Dutch, which they showed to the island of Saba about 200 years after its discovery by Columbus, then, perhaps, until now on Saba would live exclusively descendants of the brave Arawak Indians. But, to the greatest regret, most of the local tribesmen died out along with the appearance of unknown diseases brought to Saba by Europeans, and some simply migrated to Haiti. Now there are only about two thousand people living on the island, who are representatives of more than a hundred nationalities.

Britain also tried to claim its rights to the island of Saba, but without success. From the end of the XIX century until 2010 of this century, the island of Saba belonged to Holland, being the most remote region of the country. Since October 2010, Saba and two other neighboring islands, which are still part of the Netherlands Antilles, gained independence and became simply autonomous territories of Holland. And the Dutch government, according to the treaty, assumed defense and responsibility for the conduct of foreign policy of the new countries, including the island of Saba.

Saba Island PJ6Y DX NewsSaba Island. Author - James Fisher.

The island's nemesis

The second, unofficial name of Saba Island is “Immaculate Queen of the Caribbean.” Why the island received such a lyrical name, it is difficult to say. Maybe the reason lurks in the fact that until the seventies of the last century the island was an oasis, isolated from the attention of tourists and other visitors. No harbor, no airport. To get to Saba, one had to travel a long way with many different connections.

The “unspoiled” nature of the island is also evidenced by the lush tropical vegetation untouched by civilization, if not all of Saba, then at least its eastern part, as well as the austerity of architecture. The exterior of absolutely all houses of the islanders is made in a rather puritanical and absolutely identical style, established by the laws of the island: white bottom, red top. Almost like a dress code for solemn events at school, only the colors are different.

But I would like to say that roofs painted in the color of red ochre, crowning cozy white-washed houses with terraces, do not cause boredom at all, unlike the festive school lines. On the contrary. They are like ripe berries among the emerald greenery in which each of the houses is buried.

Saba Island PJ6Y Tourist attractions spot Green-throated Carib Hummingbird.Green-throated Carib Hummingbird, Saba Island. Author - Harold Moses.

Everything is known in comparison

The island of Saba is a marine national park in its entirety, and Saba is also the true summit of the underwater volcano Mount Cineri, which rises about a kilometer above the sea. This makes Saba the highest area of the entire region. So it turns out that living on top of a volcano in the middle of the open sea may be nothing compared to the constant destructive winds that regularly hit the island.

Maybe it's because of the island's high elevation above sea level, or maybe it's for a completely different reason, but no other island in the Caribbean has ever experienced such formidable forces of nature. Over the past century and a half, so many hurricanes have swept through here that the island was included in the top ten most dangerous islands on the planet.

The extreme “sights” of Saba Island, in addition to destructive winds, include the built local airport with a slightly frightening length of the runway. Only 400 meters separate the taking off plane from the water surface of the Caribbean Sea. Adrenaline lovers have a great opportunity to experience its effect on the body at each takeoff and landing of the plane, passing between steep cliffs on a small runway.

Emotions and feelings are added by the gusty wind, constantly changing its direction. By the way, because of such a small length of the runway and because of frequent strong winds, only three types of airplanes can land on Saba, and at the wheel there are always experienced pilots who have undergone special training, employees of the local airline with the proud name of “Windward Islands Airways” (“Windward Islands Airways”).

This is how two thousand brave people live here, in an eternal struggle against the natural forces that make them even more resilient, even more friendly.

PJ6Y. Where is Saba Island located. Map.

PJ6Y Saba Island. Sunrise 05-04-2025 at 09:43 GMT sunset at 22:35 GMT
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Stuart
  • Callsign: VE9CF
  • 2025-04-21 19:24:10
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Team
  • Callsign: PJ6Y
  • 2025-04-21 18:22:57
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 21, 2025 Contact: Gregg Marco W6IZT Email: gregg.w6izt@gmail.com Exciting News: PJ6Y DXpedition to Saba Island Set for October 2025! We are thrilled to announce that in October 2025, a dedicated team of 12-14 operators will activate PJ6Y from the stunning Saba Island, IOTA NA-145. This expedition represents a significant step in our ongoing mission to inspire and mentor the next generation of amateur radio operators through hands-on DXpedition experiences. Meet the Team! Our diverse team includes seasoned operators Gregg W6IZT, Dean W2FQ, Nathan K4NHW, Connor KD9LSV, and Robin W7YED, alongside a group of young, enthusiastic first-time Dxpeditioners: Matus OM8ATE, Chris KK8C, Vincent PC2Y, Seth N4XTT, George YO9LIG, Emilia YO8YL, and Ewan KK7EXT. We are in the process of adding one or two more operators to our crew. Our gracious hosts on Saba will be Jeff NM1Y and his wife Shelley. Empowering Young Operators Four of our young team members have progressed from the successful 3D2Y off-island team, showcasing the effectiveness of our recruitment process. In a groundbreaking partnership with Youth on the Air (YOTA), we will introduce 30-40 additional young hams to the world of Dxpeditioning via remote stations. Thanks to a generous grant from NCDXF, these young operators will be utilizing two NexGenRiB2 remote stations, based on Elecraft K4Ds, designed and built by our team, including Gregg W6IZT, Warren KD4Z, and John AA4AN. Workshops for Success Understanding that thorough preparation is key to a successful expedition, we are organizing a series of workshops prior to our departure. Led by experienced Dxpeditioners Gene K5GS, Glenn W0GJ, and Gerben PG5M, these sessions will cover vital topics such as funding, station design, logistics, risk mitigation, security, safety, and team responsibilities. Our aim is to not only prepare participants for the expedition but to empower them with the leadership skills necessary for future DXpeditions. What to Expect on Saba Upon arrival, the on-island team will establish three local stations plus two remote stations from the ground up, we will be active on CW, SSB, and FT8 on 160m to 6m, including operations from a satellite station. We plan to document our experiences through Zoom and podcasts, allowing our supporters and donors to follow our journey in real-time. Mark Your Calendars The PJ6Y DXpedition is scheduled for October 17 - 29, 2025, including participation in the CQWW DX SSB Contest. Our choice to activate PJ6 is driven by our ability to efficiently support and accommodate a large team in a safe environment. Support Our Mission The success of our expedition hinges on the generosity of organizations, clubs, and individuals. Together, we can pave the way for future generations in the world of DXpeditioning. Help Us Reach Our Fundraising Goal Our ultimate goal is to raise enough funds to cover all expenses for our young operators! Donations can be made via PayPal at: donatepj6y2025@gmail.com or by check to: Pacific Islands DX Group 69 Saddleview Lane Morganton GA 30560 The PACIFIC ISLANDS DXPEDITION GROUP is a 501c3 foundation. For US donors your contribution may be tax deductible. Check with your tax professional. Your support for the PJ6Y Saba DXpedition is invaluable and greatly appreciated. Together, we can inspire the next generation of hams! Thank you for your consideration. 73, PJ6Y DXpedition Team Email: gregg.w6izt@gmail.com