[Elecraft] 3Y0I Bouvet Island DXpedition "Postponed, Not Canceled"

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

Well shucks!

73

Bob, K4TAX

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3Y0I Bouvet Island DXpedition "Postponed, Not Canceled"

The 3Y0I <https://bouvetoya.org/> DXpedition to Bouvet Island 
(Bouvetøya) is off, at least for now. The skipper of the MV /Atlantic 
Tuna/ determined it was not safe to continue its voyage to the remote 
Antarctic island after the vessel suffered some damage from severe storm 
conditions. The DXpedition had expected to arrive on the island on March 
26 and be on the air by month's end.

"The captain of the MV /Atlantic Tuna/ had to [m]ake a difficult but 
responsible decision to take a course back to Cape Town, South Africa," 
a March 27 news release said <https://bouvetoya.org/3yoi-postponed/>. 
"But the 3Y0I Expedition is /not/ cancelled -- we don't give up that 
easily." The DXpedition's press officer, Stan Strzyzewski, SP8S, said 
he'd had a "long conversation" with DXpedition leader Dom Grzyb, 3Z9DX, 
who reported that the seas had calmed enough to permit crew members to 
inspect damage caused by a "severe cyclonic storm" on March 26 when the 
vessel was some 70 nautical miles off Bouvet Island. The ship was hit by 
waves of more than 36 feet and winds exceeding 100 MPH.



"The fierce oceanic forces swept past the upper deck, taking one of the 
radars, including VSAT, VHF, and HF marine antennas, off the mast and 
throwing them all overboard," Strzyzewski recounted. He stressed that 
all members of the DXpedition team are "fine, feeling OK, and safe."

"With lack of the most important navigational tools, the captain 
declared it's not safe to navigate and they need to go back to Cape Town 
to secure all participants on board, their equipment, and the vessel's 
gear," Strzyzewski continued. "In addition, all forecasts for coming 
hours are not positive."

Once back in Cape Town, the team will reassess its plans and decide 
whether to attempt a return voyage to Bouvet in April or to postpone the 
DXpedition for next season.

In February 2018, unfavorable weather and a mechanical failure on the 
transport vessel caused the cancellation of the 3Y0Z Bouvet Island 
DXpedition, after the team had arrived just offshore.