[SCCC] VP6DX - The Last News From Ducie

[Dennis Younker NE6I]

What an incredible and finely tuned machine those guys have been!  Very 
impressive!

--Dennis

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Art-W6KY" <w6ky at sbcglobal.net>
To: "SCCC" <sccc at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 4:42 PM
Subject: [SCCC] VP6DX - The Last News From Ducie


> News #22- 2008 Feb 26
> Highlights:
> ... First LOTW credits for VP6DX contacts on ARRL server ...
> ... Station and camp disassembly begins ...
> ... One more record claimed ...
>
> Late yesterday, Feb 21, the Ducie Island expedition submitted over data
> for over seven thousand VP6DX contacts to the ARRL robot. These contacts
> were with over 900 stations whose owners made financial contributions of
> at least five US dollars to the expedition through Feb 24.
>
> The submission has been accepted and processed by the robot, and these
> contacts are ready for matching by the donors.
>
> Meanwhile, on Ducie Island, the operator team and crew of the Braveheart
> have begun the first phase of disassembly and off-loading. On today's
> schedule to be disassembled and removed from the island:
>
> * All antennas for 20 through 6 meters at both east and west camps.
> * The 30m antenna at the west camp, and the 40m 4-square at the east camp.
> * Two operating positions and the shift supervisor workstation at the
> east camp.
> * The technical workstation.
> * A portion of the camp infrastructure for meals, cooking, washing, etc.
>
> No on-air operating will occur during the daylight period today, as all
> hands are needed to complete the work of disassemble, packing, transfer
> to the ship, and storage for the sea journey.
>
> Tonight (beginning as early as Feb 27 Wednesday 0300z) a more limited
> on-air operation is possible, if the operators have time and energy
> remaining. Five operating positions at two sites and transmit antennas
> for 160 through 30 meter bands will be available.
>
> At Feb 27 Wednesday 1445z on-air operations will again shut down for a
> second day of deconstruction. At the end of Thursday local time the
> entire east camp will have been removed from the island. The west camp,
> with single element verticals for 160, 80/30 and 40m, and possible one
> beverage (045) will remain, along with three operating positions. This
> equipment will be staffed by a skeleton overnight crew, on-air from
> about Feb 28 Thursday 0330-1430z. Most operators will sleep on the
> "Braveheart", as there will be no camp facilities on the island.
>
> Early Thursday morning (Ducie Island time), around 1400z, the ship's
> crew and operators will return to the island to pack and remove all
> remaining antennas, equipment, etc. The on-air phase of the Ducie Island
> expedition will end at that point.
>
> This will be the last press release from Ducie Island. A log update was
> submitted to the website about one hour ago. A final log update,
> together with a press release containing final statistics, will be
> transmitted from the Braveheart once we have departed.
>
> We would be delighted if DX editors would publish this information as
> widely as possible and DXers bring it to the attention of their clubs
> and fellow DXers.
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