MESSAGE: (#2381) The last news about Rockall EU 189
<http://www.islandchaser.com/cgi-bin/General/general.pl?rev=2381>
AUTHOR: Silvano Ame....
DATE: June 18, 2005 at 18:04 UTC
Dear friends:
This is the latest news from Rockall and the news came from Andre GM3VLB and
also from W5ZPA
Best 73
Silvano KB5GL
From: Andre Saunders
To: Andre Saunders
Sent: June 18, 2005 17:52
Subject: R O C K A L L
Hello everyone
I have tried 4 times so far to put a message on
the DX Cluster, but without success....:Perhaps
someone can do this for me...Thanks
Seamus "Jim" MM0CWJ/MS0IRC/p phoned me directly
about an hour or so ago, from Stromness in Orkney
where he was having a well-deserved dram with some of the team members.
It appears that with severe weather approaching,
the trawler skipper decided they had to return to Orkney.
Jim said there was a flat calm when they arrived
on Thursday morning, BUT there was a 4 METRE
ATLANTIC SWELL!!! However, by timing it very
carefully, they were able to "step onto" a ledge
on the rock from a small rubber dinghy before the
sea fell back rapidly. Both hams (Jim and David)
got onto the rock, as well as 7 other expedition
members. They flew the Scottish Saltire (white
cross on blue background) as well as a Spanish
regional flag (from a locality in Spain which is
part-sponsoring one of the non-ham members -
neither flag was intended to signify a
territorial claim!!! Indeed, the whole, operation was entirely non-political).
Radio expedition team leader David WOOD, MM0ALM
made the first few contacts before handing over
to Seamus. I guess we can't imagine what the
pile-up was like. They made a total of 262 QSOs
in enough countries/continents for the operation
to meet IOTA qualification requirements.
Unfortunately for those closer to Rockall
(including Scotland and more northern parts of
the U.K.), the skip was too long and sadly 40m
was absolutely dead....not a squeak apparently.
Everyone will be pleased to hear that Seamus is
very determined to return, now that he knows the
situation...as a resident of South Uist in the
Outer Hebrides, he is the best placed to mount a dedicated radio expedition.
Many photographs were taken and eventually
postage stamps/FDCs etc. will be produced for the
amateur radio side of the expedition in
collaboration with my son Niall GM6GMZ and Jeff
G3LWM/GM0PNS, both of whom have considerable
experience in such things. The money raised by
the sale of these stamps will go to a charity chosen by Seamus.
All I can add, and I'm sure you will all join me,
is to say W E L L D O N E !!! For anyone out
there who thinks they could have "tried harder",
remember, in those waters safety comes
first....and the rock is there for anyone to "have a go"!!
Vy 73 de André, GM3VLB
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