[OKDXA] Ducie Press Release

[Jeff Martin]

Ducie Press Release

For immediate release,

Ducie Island, June 16, 2023

VP6A is on the air with four stations. We have started with two remotely 
operated FT8 stations and one locally operated CW/SSB station. The 
remote FT8 operation is going well with over 20,000 QSO-s in the log. 
The local CW and SSB operation has been serious curtailed by the 
difficult conditions we are operating under.

When we arrived at Ducie, the entrance to the lagoon, where it is easy 
and safe to land -- and where past DXpeditions were operating from -- 
was completely blocked by huge crashing waves. We have established a 
very precarious hold for the boat on the exposed north shore and landed 
the RIB boat across the rocky bars and surf.

The three of us  -- KN4EEI, W6IZT and AA7JV -- have been working hard to 
keep the boat safe and to keep the stations operating. We have only a 
limited time to operate the local SSB/CW station. We understand that 
demand for CW and SSB is high. We have just brought on the air the 
fourth station, which is a remotely operated CW station. We hope this 
will be able to satisfy the demand for more CW operations.

We continue hanging on under difficult conditions. Forecasts indicate 
favorable weather for the next two days, followed by some very strong NW 
winds  and  the passage of a cold front. This will require us to 
relocate for one or two days. Once the front has passed, we will be able 
to return to the north shore, hopefully for the rest of the operation.

This is an entirely self-funded DXpedition, mainly to prove that remote 
operation is possible with a small support team and a minimal footprint. 
As environmental restrictions increase, this may be the only future way 
to activate many much wanted entities. We appreciate the support of the 
Amateur Radio community in our efforts.

George,
AA7JV