center>AMSTERDAM ISLAND
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PRESS RELEASE – April 3, 2013
TO: The DX Community
FROM: Ralph Fedor – K0IR
I am pleased to announce a major DXpedition scheduled to occur during
January and February of 2014.
An international team of 14 experienced DXpedition operators, led by
K0IR, will depart from Fremantle, Australia in early January of 2014.
Their destination will be Amsterdam Island (FT5Z).
Amsterdam Island is under the administration of Terres Australes et
Antarctiques Francaises (TAAF). There are strict rules and
environmental regulations in place on Amsterdam Island and access is
limited. Representatives of this DXpedition team met with TAAF
officials on Reunion Island in November and in Paris in early March.
The team’s plan and credentials were reviewed at those meetings, and
resulted in TAAF’s final, written authorization to land on Amsterdam
Island and conduct this DXpedition. The team has been granted an 18 day
access to the island to occur between the dates of January 15 and
February 20 of 2014.
The team will sail from Fremantle, Australia aboard the MV Braveheart.
The voyage to Amsterdam Island will take them through the “roaring 40s”
of the Indian Ocean and last about 8 days, depending on the wind and
weather. TAAF has reviewed the Braveheart’s specifications,
environmental precautions, and emergency response plan and has
designated anchorage conditions for the vessel. Landing at Amsterdam
must be timed according to sea conditions as there is no natural harbor
to shield the landing area from the open sea. This may necessitate
waiting off shore until the sea conditions are suitable. But, our 18
day window does not start until we step onto the island.
Once ashore, the team will move to two station positions assigned by
TAAF. The two locations are about 2 kilometers apart. Each location
will allow a full complement of antennas. The separation will allow
simultaneous CW/RTTY and SSB transmission on the open bands. The group
plans on eight stations; four at each location. Elecraft K3’s, a full
complement of antennas, and 500 watt and 1.5 KW amplifiers will be the
backbone of the station configurations.
The operators are well known in the DXing and contesting world and
include: 9V1YC, EY8MM, FM5CD, HK1R, K4UEE, K9CT, LA6VM, N4GRN, N6HC,
VE3EJ, VE7CT, W6IZT, WB9Z, and yours truly K0IR.
Our website is in the final stages of preparation. When it is complete,
you may access it at: www.amsterdamdx.org/ The website will be
password protected until it is ready.
As with past DXpeditions to “Top Ten” countries, this is a costly
venture. The expenses total just over $400,000 (U.S.). Each operator
must contribute a minimum of $10,000 of his own money, pay his own way
to Fremantle, Australia, be away from home and family for six weeks,
spend 16 to 18 days at sea, and be prepared for the financial and
physical risks inherent in a major DXpedition of this magnitude.
The group needs your financial support to successfully complete this
major project and is asking all DX’ers to contribute what they can to
make this happen. We know that clubs and major sponsors will help us;
INDEXA has already made an extremely generous contribution to the
project and the NCDXF has honored with a very large grant. But we also
need the help of individual DX’ers, not only from North America, but
also from Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and Oceania. Let’s make
this happen! Then, let’s enjoy the chase of a new country, a new band
country, or working a rare one!
73 – Ralph Fedor – K0IR
