[ADXA] Bouvet Island DXpedition Press Release # 9

[Joel Harrison]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Bouvet Island DXpedition – 3YØZ

Press Release #9
October 17, 2017

After over 10 years of dreaming and 2 years of rigorous planning, we have
turned a page.  Our team is intact and ready.  We have 17,000 pounds of
equipment.  It has been tested, sorted, inventoried and packed into our
40-foot sea container.  We have discussed all conceivable contingencies,
including rough seas, clouds and fog, high winds and emergencies at sea
and on shore.  We have studied propagation, maximized our location on the
island, selected the best radio equipment, and have thought first and
foremost of safety.  All of this culminated when we sealed our sea
container on October 9th, entered it into customs bond, placed it on a
truck and watched it begin its journey to Punta Arenas, Chile.  Our die
has been cast.  Now, a new chapter begins: one of reflection, waiting
anxiously and hoping (praying) that all will go well from this point on.

We have been blessed by the worldwide support of individual amateur radio
operators, clubs and foundations.  They have backed us, overwhelmingly. 
We are inspired by the support we have received, both financially and in
spirit.  We want to live up to all that is expected of us on this
“generational” DXpedition, which is likely the largest and most
challenging DXpedition ---- ever.  Indeed, there may never be another like
it.  We now have time to appreciate the responsibility that this project
thrusts upon us.  We feel it, and we will do our utmost to meet the DX
world’s expectations from Bouvet - the number 2 “most wanted” entity.

You will start seeing band plans, more detailed propagation information,
QSL information and more on our website.  Our Facebook and Twitter social
media outlets will keep their conversational tone, but shift their focus
to how you can best work us, plus current events and news of interest. 
Our updated propagation forecasts continue to validate our predictions, as
visualized on our website propagation page.

Our team now has a singular focal point, King George Island, where the
next chapter begins.  We will meet our ship there on January 13th, and
sail 2,200 miles to Bouvet.  By departing from King George Island rather
than Punta Arenas, we save about 400 miles of sea travel.  This
essentially gives us one or two more days on the air from Bouvet. We will
savor those days, because they will give us QSOs that otherwise would not
have been made.

We have asked more from our team members than for any previous DXpedition.
This includes their time, effort and money. We thank all of you who are
helping to defray some of their costs.  We continue to welcome new and
additional support to help with these expenses.

We are counting the days…..

73,
Bob-K4UEE
Ralph-KØIR
Erling-LA6VM

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