[Dx-qsl] Fw: Trindade 2002 DXpedition

[Dave Raycroft]

TRINDADE ISLAND DXPEDITION

The Araucaria DX Group, with unprecedented cooperation from Inepar S.A
company and its Chairman Oms PY5EG, the Brazilian authorities and Navy, is
proud to announce that it will sponsor a major DXpedition to Trindade &
Martin Vaz Archipelago, the most eastward point of Brazilian territory.

The DXpedition will operate from Trindade Island situated at 20� 30'S and
29�
18' W (grid locator HG59) 1,142 km east of the southeast Brazil state of
Espirito Santo.  This will be the first lengthy DXpedition in several years
to this much-needed DXCC entity.

Trindade & Martin Vaz Archipelago currently appears in the Top 30 on the
"Most Wanted" lists. Occurring near the sunspot peak, tens of thousands of
new band/mode DXCC QSOs will be made with country collectors around the
world.

The team will depart Rio de Janeiro aboard a Brazilian Navy vessel on
February 15, 2002.  The team expects to be on the air some time during the
late hours of February 18 and to operate non-stop with as many as four
stations until their departure on March 2.

Operations on 160 through 6 meters including the WARC bands will include
RTTY, PSK31, and SSTV.  Amateur satellite activity is uncertain at this
time.
 Special plans have been made to insure that the low bands and 6 meters are
activated with appropriate antennas and experienced operators dedicated to
overcoming the challenges these bands offer.

DXpedition Leader Andre PY0FF, taking over after months of delicate
negotiations by Oms PY5EG, has gathered the following operator team: PY5CC,
PY5HSD, PT7BZ, PY7XC, PY7ZY, PY7ZZ, PY0FF, N6FF and W9VA.

The team received very short notice of the departure date therefore intense
preparations are underway.  The group will be required to pay for at least
$12,000 of fuel for the Navy vessel, therefore financial support from the DX
community is urgently being sought.  Individual financial contributions will
be deeply appreciated and acknowledged by the group.

Dennis K7BV, having to cancel as an operator, will head up Publicity and
Fund
Raising with assistance from Bill W9VA and Steve KU9C.

Watch for the DXpedition website www.Trindade2002.com to become active no
later than January 19.  Direct questions regarding the DXpedition to K7BV
k7bv@aol.com or PY5EG Oms py5eg@inepar.com.br until the actual operating
begins.  Then lead Pilot Station Rod WC7N wc7n@gb.wave.net will take over
coordination chores with assistance from Carl N4AA.  Rod may add continental
Pilot Stations in difficult to reach parts of the world like Asia.

The group is pleased to have the services of renowned QSL Manager Steve
KU9C,
another operator who had to cancel due to business obligations.

Please send early individual support contributions to K7BV.  Your kind
contribution can also be sent with your QSL-SASE to KU9C.

Dennis Motschenbacher K7BV
4357 Appollonio Way
Carson City, NV 89704

The Araucaria DX Group would like to express deep thanks to the Brazilian
authorities and especially to the Brazilian Navy for its extremely important
support that will permit the World Ham Radio Community to contact Trindade
Island on all popular modes and bands.

Please visit the Araucaria DX Group website http://araucaria.inepar.com.br/

73, Atilano de Oms PY5EG