[EIDXA] JA1BK on KH8SI

[Jim Spencer]

KH8SI Swains Island DXpedition, 20062006.0806
After three and half years' struggles, finally the DXpedition of KH8SI 
Swains Island as a New Entity became reality. It was an amazingly eventful 
story, for which I would be able to write a book. But it is waste of time to 
write the entire story anymore. Please read the travel record.

Soon after DXCC2000 was announced, I found three New Entity candidates. I 
urgently went to Marquesas and Australs and carried out QRV at FO0MIZ. At 
this moment, I knew that Timotu could be a New. I asked VK9NS to go there, 
because there was not enough time for me to visit three places by myself.
Chesterfield and Ducie became New for clause c) subsequently. I have called 
First CQ's from four brand new ones. After a stalemate before reaching the 
first objective of five New Entities, I could finally operate from the fifth 
New. Swains Island KH8SI is my memorable event.

Unlike before, it was not round trip. The outward ship did not wait for us 
to return. Two-times round trips was the requirement at the beginning.
I was supposed to take Tokelau flag-flying ship, MV Tokelau for outward, and 
for return, MV Sili chartered by Am Samoa government.
I had a breakdown for one-week postponement of departure due to the schedule 
of two ships and length of our stay. I once abandoned the plan and prepared 
to go back to Japan on July 25.
At any rate, we could cut a deal. We left for Swains at 12:20 on 27 and 
arrived at 8:30 on 28. JGX and I went ashore in the lead.
Since I had an eye on adequate palm trees for antenna, we made station 
layout pretty soon and set up the station in about two hours.
The first QSO was AH8LG on July 28 at 2219Z. The ten stations, JA1XQC, 
VK3PA, VK7AC, JA3MHA, JA1SLS, JN4MIV, JF1PJK, JH1HGC and VK3SX follow it.
In spite of the worst conditions, we had got lots of piles. We could not 
handle them without number at the beginning.
Unlike in the case of the previous event, the season was winter there. As it 
was quite cool at night, we did not have to go out from the tent to cool 
ourselves and worked efficiently.

In the meantime, I myself had to take the plane on July 30 for Honolulu to 
attend the IARU R3 conference at Bangalore. As MV Tokelau stayed one night 
for fishing fortunately, I left the island for Apia, Samoa after 32 hours 
stay at Swains Island. I voyaged for 20 hours to Apia, traveled 25 
kilometers to the airport, took 30 minutes to Pago Pago by small twin-engine 
plane. I waited for three hours to take plane for Honolulu, then arrived at 
Honolulu at 5:30 in the morning, waited for four hours and boarded an 
airplane for Narita. I came back to Japan at last. I had never been 
exhausted like this before. But it was good that I could make QSO with 
KH8SI, which was still operated. Hi hi

I cannot organize all the logs before go to India. As I would like to work 
bit by bit, there is no need to hurry to send SASE.

Attention
Please attach all QSO data together in one QSL. I will search the labels by 
station. Since all QSO's are printed in the label, it is impossible to split 
it.
Please understand it, as it is simple. In the case you made five QSO's, if 
you send five SASE separately, I have to open five envelopes. It needs 
five-times needless energy. I receive tens of thousands of letters. Thank 
you for your consideration.