WAP Antarctic QSL Gallery

Another great batch of "Rare" Antarctic QSLs, have been loaded on the WAP QSL Gallery, thanks to Dr. Volker Strecke DL8JDX (ex. Y88POL, DPØGF, DPØGVN)

Volker did operate in Antarctica during several Antarctic Expeditions: 1988-89 as Y88POL Georg-Forster-Base, than again on 1990-92 as Y88POL Georg-Forster-Base and from  1992 to 1994 as DPØGVN at Neumayer-Base. Dr. Volker did get an additional license for the call DPØGF in January 1992, but he did never use it.

Next days, up here on WAP pages, we will see one by one the Antarctic Expeditions made by Dr. Volker who recently applied for WAP-WACA & WAP-WASA Awards. Our best congratulation to Dr. Volker for his great job done for many years in Antarctica and for having shared it with us!

Pay a visit to the WAP QSL Gallery to  enjoy the largest Antarctic QSL Gallery Worldwide.

WAP … Antarctic passion lives here!

PEKING  Reuters - Dom 20 Apr - 18.29

China will complete a new Research Station in Antarctica by next year, extending its own presence on the icy Continent, reports today China Press.

Dr.Sun Bo, head of the Antarctic Chinese Expedition, said: - as reported from the official Print Agency Xinhua, a Scientific Expedition planned for the beginning of November will build the main structure of the new Station situated on Dome A, the higher point of the continent at 4.093 meters asl. The third Scientific Research Station of the Country on the Icy Continent would have to be concluded within the next January 2009- said Dr. Sun at his return from  the 24^th  Chinese Scientific Expedition in Antarctica.

At Dome “A”, scientists, will drill ice nucleus  to reach the one of 1,2 million years ago, and will study the geologic evolution under the ice cap, the total climatic changes and astronomy". Let’s hope China could bring some Radio operators to be on HF as we really wish to get one of them for “New One”. After Zhong Shan Station (WAP-CHN Un-numbered) and Great Wall Station WAP CHN-Ø1 (see pic at Right), Dome "A" will be WAP CHN-Ø2.

Antarctic Epic: 30 March 1927, Emilio Baldoni made it happening!

Posted by Stefano IK3ABY

Last 30 of March , recurred the 80 years anniversary of an historical date; that was when the sounds of Morse code were listened for the first time in Antarctica. This has been a fundamental step in the development of radio communications in those latitudes.

That day of 1927, a Radio Station was opened by Argentina on a Weather Base on the South Orkney islands. The telegrapher, Argentina Navy's Sergeant major Emilio Baldoni of Italian origin, made contact for the first time from Antarctica with Station LIK of Ushuaia and through there with Buenos Aires. This was a great event considering the equipments used at that time.

It is necessary to emphasize, that from 22 February  1904, a permanent activities in Laurie Island of the Orkneys began and did last in the areas of the Argentinean Antarctica, to the 30 March 1927, that is to say, during twenty-three years people in Antarctica were  cut away with the rest of the world for more than a year, since a new ship would have reached them for the annual relief. During the eleven nights previous to this event,  all the personnel at the Orkneys encouraged the radio operator Baldoni, who impelling the manipulator with his fist, transmitting a "general CQ call, with negative results, until that historical day arrived, when the sounds of Morse code were perceived and it repeated in rhythmical intervals, happening moments of anguish and joy, until establishing the communication. More details and photos on this subject  can be found at: www.marambio.aq/1racomradio.html.

TNX IK3ABY

VP8DIF - Husvik Station - WAP GBR-27

During a research project on the island of South Georgia,  Lars Boheme MMØDWF could operate SSB & CW even with a low power on his spare time, as VP8DIF.

See:  http://www.lars-boehme.de/vp8dif/index.html .

This Sub-Antarctic island lies at about 54°S and 37°W within the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). It is long and narrow, some 170 km long and varying from 2 to 40 km wide. The main scientific purpose of this project was a tag Southern elephant seals with Satellite Relay Data Loggers to observe the ACC, its implications on climate and studying Southern Elephant Seals interaction with their physical environment. For more information see: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/-savex/  

TNX DJ9ZB, QSL Manager for this Station. VP8DIF is listed on the WAP Dbase & Directory as GBR-27

UA1KAE has been operated in 1961 by an American researcher: WØODE

"Stew" Gillmor was first licensed in 1953 as WNØODE, then WØODE. In 1960-62, he operated as member of the 6th Soviet Antarctic Expedition as op at UA1KAE at Mirny, Antarctica. Then W1FEL, and finally W1FK in 1977. He worked for Stanford Research Institute as a E.E. student at Stanford; then worked at National Bureau of Standards in Boulder, Colorado and Antarctica. 

Posted by Stew W1FK

I also just today examined your 2008 Antarctic call sign listing directory. I wish to note that the Soviet Mirny station (WAP RUS-Ø7) used the amateur call UA1KAE for quite a few years, not just in 1971. I spent more than 13 months at Mirny in 1960-66, as U.S.A. guest scientist, and we had a large pile of UA1KAE QSL cards already printed out. I had not a lot of time for hamming, but I operated UA1KAE numerous times and published an article about it in "73" Magazine back in the late 1970s. I probably operated UA1KAE from the months of late Antarctic summer 1961 (March?) through December 1961, and mailed perhaps a couple of dozen UA1KAE QSL cards when I returned to the US. We had no SSB equipment, but used Soviet naval receivers, plus a Soviet 1KW xmtr for CW and AM phone. I used mostly 20 meter band, sending CW, or having US contacts by my sending CW and receiving SSB. Our antennas were mostly dipoles strung for 60 or 70 foot steel masts. I recently visited the Antarctic Museum in Genova-Italy and enjoyed it.
Thank you  C. Stewart Gillmor, W1FK

TNX Stew  for opening a page of the Antarctic epic at WAP! We have already made the suggested correction on WAP-WACA Dbase which new release will be available by the month of June.

S5ØIPY WAP-151

Posted by Marjan S51RU

I have already made over 500 QSOs with my IPY call. See enclosed my picture for WAP site. The cards will be print out and send to me at the end of April by Nasko, LZ1YE.You can see my front side QSL on QRZ.COM .

The International Polar Year is a large scientific programme focused on the Arctic and the Antarctic running from March 2007 to March 2009. IPY, organized through the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), will involve over 200 projects, with thousands of scientists from over 60 Nations examining a wide range of physical, biological and social research topics. It is also an unprecedented opportunity to demonstrate, follow, and get involved with cutting edge science in real-time. Hams worldwide  did join the IPY as well, with several special callsigns all referenced by a specific WAP number. Thank you for your attention and see you on the band !

TNX S51RU/S5ØIPY

FT5/FR5HR/MM @ "Port au Français" (Kerguelen)

Thanks to Didier F6ELE, we have got a rare QSL dated 23-01-1998, when the French Patrol Ship Albatros was on Kerguelen Island on Sub Antarctic waters.

Albatros P681, is an old freezer fishing boat of the "SCN, Caennaise Naval Society ", launched in 1966 and acquired from the French Navy in 1983.  It did enter in service on 19 May 1984 and will remain active until 2015. Its base is on Reunion Island. P/S Albatros is dedicated to patrol the TAAF around and Antarctic French islands of Kerguelen, Crozet, Sant Paul & Amsterdam, to assure the rights among the 200 miles of the French Z.E.E. (Exclusive Economic Zone). Its mission is to watch an area beyond two million  of sq/kms These fields are localized more than 2500 kms to the South of Reunion islands in the heart  of  a natural  environment  populated by a huge variety of aquatic animals. The missions that can last approximately two months, are spaced out of pauses around the islands and patrolling.

Crew: 7 officials, 25 Non-commissioned officers, 17 QMM, 15 eventual passengers. More information and photos can be seen at the official site of the French Navy: http://www.netmarine.net/bat/patrouil/albatros/index.htm .

FT5/FR5HR/MM will be though add to the list of Maritime Mobile station valid for WAP-WACA & WAP-PSA. TNX Didier F6ELE, Catherine F8CIQ & Patrice F6JOB also,  for having translated the WAP-WACA Directory in French language,  and TNX IT9MRM, for the info about P/S Albatros.

More comment from AAW & IPY’s operators.

Posted by Charles MØOXO/GBØANT/GB4IPY

HI WAP,

I haven’t had time to say how much I enjoyed this Years AAW. I think it was the best so far and to date GBØANT has 8954 Qso's and GB4IPY 11207 Qso's. Its been a super event and what I shall do after International Polar Year ends I really don’t know. I will have to think of something new for a 'WAP' reference to keep me occupied hi! Anyway always nice to hear so many friends, regards to all the Guys “behind the scenes” for all the splendid work they do for the WAP Program. 

MØOXO offers as QSL manager: By the way, if you know of any 'IPY'/'ANT' Station that may require help with QSL's, I am always happy to help anyone requiring a QSL Manager. Perhaps you could bear me in mind should you hear of anyone requiring a Manager?

Take care,  Charles MØOXO (GBØANT/GB4IPY)

From G7MAR/MM  &  Saga Ruby

John wrote: Yes been home for a short while now., The vessel is in Civitavecchia (Italy) at the end of the month, I rejoin in Lisbon in May. However we do visit again in June 19/20th and again in October along with Livorno (Italy) the day after. I am trying to get a HF long wire up at home but there is a huge tree in the way of a straight run. if I can get enough coax then I shall put up a dipole behind it.
My Sat contact came forward from Argentina! and a few people have been in touch for my HF contacts. In case someone whish to receive the card for G7MAR/MM  for contact made during his last trip in South Atlantic and Antarctica, his Postal Address is:

John Rivers, 1 Hazelwood Close, Ryde, Isle Of Wight PO33 2UP, UK
TNX G7MAR-G7MAR/MM

Another chance for Bouvet WAP NOR-Ø2..?

Posted by Tom ZD7X at http://hamspirit.wordpress.com/

I will be departing St. Helena island in late June & travel to my next DX location of Tristan da Cunha island. My callsign on Tristan will be ZD9X. Once on Tristan, my plan is to explore a way of getting to Bouvet island & to operate from there before a TENTATIVE operation to the three islands of South Sandwich, South Orkney & South Georgia via the Falkland islands. According to the 100 Most Needed List, (2006) Bouvet is ranked at 8th in the world. It would be a crying shame to be less than 1400 miles from Bouvet and not to give a 100% effort to try to put Bouvet on the air. Bouvet is located nearest to Tristan than any other island.

R6ANT WAP-24. Great job by Oleg UA6GG !

Oleg Latyshev, is operating during the Antarctic Activity Weeks since 2006. At the beginning he was using UE6ANT as WAP-24, when he was still holding UA6HPR call sign. This year he’s got R6ANT brand new call.

Oleg is also a professional printer (owner of UA6HPR QSL Print Service  www.qsl.su) and his QSL cards are really first class.

He has just posted us a couple new QSLs for the 5^th AAW when he did operate as R6ANT WAP-24. Congrats Oleg for another FB job!

TNX UA6GG-UA6HPR

4K1G Leningradskaya Station, WAP RUS-Ø6

Posted by Peter DL3APO www.radioklub.de/cgcg

Operator was UAØUBF, operating from Station Leningradskaya WAP RUS-Ø6, USSR XXVII Soviet Antarctic Expedition in 1982.

There are other 3 different style of 4K1G’s card still missed on WAP Antarctic QSL Gallery; this one is loaded on, among over 1300 other QSLs received by the courtesy of several Old Timers. You can share with us your Antarctic QSL cards. Just send a scan copy of the front side and we’ll be more than happy to load any new cards on the WAP Gallery. (see also: http://www.hamradio.ru/rrc/QSL/list_e.asp?ID=1)

VA7MLW/MM - S/Y Kim Chow sailing Sub Antarctic waters

Posted by Alberto Mattei, IT9MRM

Glenn Wakefield , VA7MLW is actually about 950 miles to the Falkland islands on board of his Sailing Yacht Kim Chow.  He’s solitary sailor, and being an optimal  Ham radio operator, he’s been busy on radio the past few weeks making new contacts on 14250 SSB.

As soon as the yacht ill cross the Falklands he will head to Cape Horn. From that area, contacts with VA7MLW/MM will count for both WAP Awards: WAP-WACA and WAP-PSA (Polar Ship Antarctica). Pay a visit to his web site at:

http://www.kimchowaroundtheworld.com/public/index.html

His actual distance to Falklands waypoint: 986 nmi.  Distance to Cape Horn: 1398 nmi.

TNX IT9MRM

LU8XW/XP Isla de Los Estados-WAP ARG-23-Cancelled.

Posted by Pablo LU6XV

Unfortunately the Ship ALFEREZ SOBRAL (ex-ATA-187 USS Salish) expecting to go to Isla de los Estados, had failures to one of its engines just before crossing the Strait of Le Maire, and it was forced to return to the Port of Ushuaia. The planned operation to San Juan de Salvamento Lighthouse is therefore cancelled

LU2XT reported that all the material loaded on board, necessary  to complete the maintenance at the Lighthouse was downloaded from M/V Alférez Sobral . No date is known for next attempt.
TNX LU6XV

AAW-AWARDING of PRIZE at the SRT-DX Convention

Posted by Nuccio IØYKN

As reported on the info of last 13 March 2008, all the Special Station’s participants to the 5^th AAW (those who did sent the QSO’s Total, to IØYKN nucciomeoli@libero.it as required since then) will be prized by a Special parchment Award during the DX Convention organized in Southern Italy by SRT, Strange Radio Team.

(see http://www.strangeradioteam.com/ ). Perhaps those who have not yet sent their totals to IØYKN could have their last chance now....even in a hurry! WAP recalls the readers that an AWARD called WAP-ASEA (Antarctic Special Event Award)  is achievable by the manager IØYKN.

Check: http://www.aricassino.it/diplomi.htm to get rules and infos.

TNX IØYKN & IØOCD

Marion Island WAP ZAF-Ø6

From ZS8T web site: http://zs8t.net

Thanks to suitable weather conditions, SA Agulhas (aka “Red Taxi”) reached Marion Island on March 31st  in the early hours without any difficulties. This means Petrus Kritzinger (ZS6GCM) ZS8T is now at Marion Island, where this will be his QTH for at least 12 months.

The ZS8T’s support Team would like to remind the current research team (scheduled for 2008/2009 including its leader - Petrus ZS8T) is overloaded with work which has to be completed in the next few weeks. This is why ZS8T’s activity won’t start earlier than end of April.

TNX MMØNDX, SQ8X, ZS6DXB

Visit the dedicated ZS8T web site at http://zs8t.net to get answers to all your queries.

LU8XW/XP - Faro San Juan de Salvamento – LU8XW/XP

Isla de los Estados  WAP ARG-23

Members of Ushuaia Radio Club, will participate in the maintenance of the San Juan de Salvamento Lighthouse Info at:
http://www.hidro.gov.ar/Historia/FSanJuandelSalvamento.asp In its free times, Hugo LU2XT, will take advantage to operate CW and possibly SSB as LU8XW/XP from the 10:00 UTC of the 07 April until the 00:00 UTC 17 April. Geographic location is: 54° 44' South, 63° 52' West, Grid Square FD85BG. QSL via  WD9EWK:

Contacts are valid for   Diploma Permanente Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego by LU8XW: (http://www.lu8xw.net/modules/wfdownloads/viewcat.php?cid=5 )

Diploma Cinco Islas,  by  GACW  (http://gacw.no-ip.org/ )

WAP-WACA as WAP ARG-23   & ARLHS as ARG 002 .

TNX LU9XT , LU5XPP , LU6XV 

C-124 Globemaster that crashed in Antarctica during 1958.

Posted by:  Gerald L. Metcalf,  former U.S.A.F.

I would greatly appreciate any current information regarding Antarctica and the current research there.  As a former Airman in “1959”, I was part of the crew that flew C-124's to the Pole from New Zealand.  We lost one of our ships during that period and I have often wondered if there was ever any salvage attempts made.  The words for us, at the time, was "That it struck a mountain" and there would be no survivors.  Understandable of course. Very Sincerely, Gerald L. Metcalf

Here is the available information

(TNX Adam Brown K2ARB, Patriot Hills, Antarctica 2006-07)

1958 October 16: A C-124 Globemaster en-route from Christchurch, New Zealand crashes into the Admiralty Mountains while flying to make a mail drop at Hallett Station. The aircraft was loaded with 8 tons of  construction timber. The seven men on the flight deck survived.  The six men in the cargo area of the aircraft perished. Those killed were -  SSGT Leonard M. Pitkevitch, USAF, 52nd TCS; TSGT Iman E. Fendley, USAF, 52nd TCS; TSGT Nathaniel Wallis, USAF, 52nd TCS; A1C Richard De Angelo, USAF, 52nd TCS; A2C Robert L. Burnette, USAF, 52nd TCS; A2C Kelly Sloan, USAF, 52nd TCS. For information, on current US research, take a look at: http://usap.gov/researchersAndScienceProjects/

MALVINAS/FALKLANDS -WAP GBR-25- Reviewing a little history

Year 1504, the Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci arrives at the Islands pushed by a storm; he registers it in his "Lettera to Soderini" written the month of September of the same year. 1520, Magallanes sights the Islands and reported it on the ship book. 1540 the islands were drawn in the maps of Pigafetta, as reported by Pedro Reinal in 1522 a reporter of the Expedition of Duarte Barbosa, by Diego Rivero in 1529 and Alonso of Santa Cruz in 1541. Falklands are also marked on later maps of Sebastian Caboto in 1544.

1592: Captain Davis, becomes the first English sighting the Islands. Few years later, in the 1690, English Captain John Strong was the first Briton who disembarks in the Archipelago and gave it the name of Falkland inspired by a town and a castle in the County of Fife.

The fishermen of whales of the Port of Saint Malo, in the year 1701, called this islands "Maluines" (Malvinas). June 1771,  a Spanish marine infantry did land ad occupied the Falklands Islands in name of “Spanish Crown”. The Interior of the Archipelago exerted between 1822 and 1831 by the retailer Luís Vernet, who outside accompanied by its family and a group by colons, fact that consolidates the inherited Territorial Rights of Spanish Crown. French navigator Bouganville, next 1764 did land and occupy Port Solitude and shortly after, calls it San Luís. Spanish Crown returns to make its protest and the sailor retires pacifically in 1767.The Spanish Captain Felipe Ruíz Bridge, Governor of the Malvivas Islands, orders the retirement of a group of English that disembarked in Crossed Port baptizing it Egmont Port. Later, the same Governor did order the retirement of another British square under the control of Antony Hunt, but this one did resist. In 1770, under the command of six ships, the Spanish Captain Juan Ignacio Madariaga, did attack the English frigate "Tamar", because the resistance of Hunt to leave the Falklands, and obtains the surrender of the British. 1774, the British gave back Crossed Port to the Spanish Governor and left the place. After the successive wars of American Independence, Spain leaves to Port Solitude, and in the year 1820, Captain David Jewett, Commander of the Argentina Frigate "Heroin", takes possession of the Falklands in name of the United Provinces. 1823: The Guaraní native, Pablo Aretagui, born in Missions, becomes the first Argentine Governor of the Falklands Islands. The 10^th of June 1829, marks the designation of the First Argentine Governor in the Islas Malvinas (now Falklands Islands). The Government of Buenos Aires did designate as Governor of Malvinas Archipelago, Mr. Luis Vernet, who was working in the colonization of the Port Solitude. The reclamations of the Argentina Sovereignty on the Islands is also based on this landmark. A distinctive fact, is that the  Falkland Islands, South Sandwich and South Georgia, are comprised of the Argentina’s Submarine Continental Platform. TNX LU6EE, GACW bulletin Nr.368  &  Marambio Foundation.

QSL and Photo of USNS Wyandot KC4USW/MM 1965

Good question from Adam K2ARB

I thought you might like these for the collection.  I would be interested in learning from current active hams operating /MM whether there are any difficulties with HF interference to scientific experiments on research vessels.  Would like to see if we can solve these so that we can encourage more /MM activity in Antarctic.  Mike Gloistein I certainly know and I will ask him when he emerges.  Anyone else? TNX K2ARB

Please send your comments and your eventual answers to Adam at:

k2arb at aol.com

KC4USV/MM is loaded on the WAP QSL Gallery

Antarctica.... life and QSLs!

Another good batch of pictures and Antarctic QSLs have been uploaded on the WAP QSL Gallery and on WAP Photo Gallery.

Thanks for that to an Antarctic veteran  Prof. Luciano Blasi IØJBL (aka IAØPS) , who sent some pics of his 10 years spent in Antarctica since 1986, where he did operate also as KC4USV  and NNØICE. Pay a visit at the Photo Album, just by clicking the icon on your left; pictures are on. Rare and new QSLs have been sent us by Didier Bas F6ELE, another Old Timer and Antarctic enthusiast, and now this rare cards are shown on the WAP Antarctic QSL Gallery among the over 1500 Antarctic QSLs already loaded on it. WAP staff is grateful to the OMs  who share with us, passion and experience.

Italian Air Force 85^th Anniversary

Today is the 85^th Anniversary of the IAF and we join the celebration with pride !

Just to inform the readers that QSL for II2EFA WAP-132 have been printed and ready to dispatch. QSLs can be requested via bureau  to  IW2MNO:

or direct through: Marcello Tronconi, Via Dembowschi 13,    21013 - Gallarate (VA)- ITALY.

II2EFA is the 3rd Special callsign used by ITALIAN AIR FORCE during the WAP Antarctic Activity Weeks (which previous ones were II2AMI and IO2MET) , to remark the constant presence of the Italian Air Force within the Antarctic Expeditions and to several Peacekeeping Missions worldwide.

Brazilian military man lost in the Antarctica

Sad news is coming from Antarctica: Sergeant  Laércio de Melo Olegário 42 years old, 20 years at Brazilian Navvy , disappeared last 15 Feb. 2008, in the middle of a storm from on board of oceanographic vessel Ary Rongel, when the Polar Ship was moving towards King George island.

Laércio de Melo Olegário, was assigned to the 23^rd Antarctic Brazilian Campaign  working in Antarctica at Base Comandante Ferraz (pic on top  left). Brazilian Sea-coast spokesman  said that " all the available resources were used during the 8 days of research, relied on the collaboration with helicopters of Chilean Air Force taking off from Chilean P.te Frei Base, and personnel of the nearby Polish Arctowski station”.

Font: http://ww1.rtp.pt/noticias/index.php?article=335017&visual=26 

Antarctic Conferences at MNA – Genova – Italy

Posted by IZ1GJK

Starting from Thursday April 3^rd 2008 at 18,00, will beginning a cycle of Conferences and Presentations dedicated to Antarctica, held by the MNA, Italian National Museum of Antarctica (Genoa).

Veterans and Researchers whit specific experience in Antarctic fields will be waiting the welcome guests. Dr. Paolo Bernat will attend the lecturers according to the specified program.

This could be a good opportunity for the eventual tourists wishing to visit the ancient wonderful city of Genova on the Italian Riviera.

TNX IZ1GJK

S/Y Blizzard sailing Antarctic & Sub-Antarctic waters

Posted by Adam K2ARB

Another boat that I know was in Antarctica this season that was not listed was the S/Y Blizzard (www.blizzardexpeditions.com) which sailed to the Peninsula and visited Verndasky during January.  It is a boat operated by my friend Hannan McKeand and her partner David.  She did not have a Ham operator aboard but she did operate on the commercial HF ship net when she was in the Antarctic.   Maybe we can persuade her to obtain a ham license in a future year.

Hannah set the record for the fastest solo walk from Hercules Inlet (near Patriot Hills to the South Pole, last season while I was there) and at the moment Hannah is attempting to be the first woman to walk solo from Canada to the North Pole (www.adventurehannah.com).

TNX K2ARB

Goodbye Italica.

After 18 years of impeccable service from Italy to Antarctica and back, the Italian research cannot afford it anymore. Ship Italica  did serve to transport to the Italian Antarctic base “Mario Zucchelli” persons, fuel, provisions and research tools and it has been the point of reference for the oceanographic research as well. With the re-entering of the M/V Italica in Italy the old contract is expired and the ship has been given back to the Shipowner.

Thanks and Credit to ANSA:

http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnplus/italia/news/2008-03-18_118199840.html 

Too bad seing another piece of Antarctic history ending with an unfair destiny! We sadly think that, cutting financial resources to the research fields, is always a myopic choice from Governments!

Goodbye Italica ... Italy will miss you!

To  all  WAP  friends,  
wishes…. good Easter!

de IT9MRM @ ARMI
&  Italian Navvy

WAP Worldwide Antarctic Program  wish a
peaceful and Happy Easter to you all,  and Yours.

To those,  researchers and workers,  beginning their wintering down South in Antarctica  our friendship and liking.

To our readers , to the Antarctic chasers and enthusiasts our Best Wishes.  WAP Staff

Alex Turkeev RV1ZC on board “Akademik Fedorov”

Posted by RV1ZC

Russian expedition is on the way down South. Last reported at 12:00 UTC, 2008-Mar-21 was  showing the position of Akedemik Fedorov at: 63° 12’ South, 16° 42’ East. Alex wrote:

I and Mike Botckarev  will be starting on radio at March 24 till May 1 from on board «Akademik Fedorov» with QTH approximately Lat. 68° S; Long. 14° E.
I have FT-897D with power only 100W and antennas: 6BTV, 20m Delta loop, 20m Vertical. We  will be use 20, 30, 40m bands in SSB, CW, RTTY, PSK.  I don’t know now the date  for visiting to Russians Antarctic bases. Other info about DX Expedition in Antarctica after April 2, in Internet or in DX cluster. Hope I’ll see you on the bands. 73 Alex Turkeev  RV1ZC (R1ANC-2006, UA1ZCK). Details about ship (Akademik Fedorov) capabilities are available at: http://siempre.arcus.org/4DACTION/wi_alias_fsDrawPage/1/85

MARION ISLAND,  WAP ZAF-Ø6

Last weekend some members of the ZS8T team gathered in Cape Town, South Africa at David’s ZS1BCE to assemble all the equipment before loading it on SA Agulhas.

Thanks to fantastic efforts of our sponsors, everything arrived in time, coming to South Africa from different parts of the world via Fed Ex, UPS and such.  All the radio equipment has been double checked as there is no place for mistakes and failures at Marion Island… and Petrus’ departure comes faster than you might think… Rhy ZS6DXB wrote.

More information are available at  http://zs8t.net/ including a possibility to subscribe a newsletter . TNX to ZS8T web site ’s Team

BLUE ONE (Novo Runway) WAP MNB-Ø6

Posted by Adam K2ARB

Lots of photos here http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080311/101107302.html   of Blue One, which was in the news this yesterday.

TNX K2ARB

A Russian first deputy premier Sergei Ivanov's trip is the first high-profile Russian visit to the ice-covered continent, where several countries including Russia have scientific research bases. Regular flights from Cape Town, South Africa, to Novolazarevskaya were resumed in 2001 after a 10-year break. Many of the Russian planes used for aerial survey, as well as personnel and cargo deliveries, which have continued uninterrupted for 53 years, are in need up updating or replacement.

Read the full articles at:  http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080311/101107302.html

Thanks and Credit to: Russian News & Information Agency Novosti (RIA)

AY7X Expedición Lago Fagnano WAP ARG-23

Posted by Pablo LU6XV

Ushuaia Radio Club, will be active as AY7X from Destacamento LAGO FAGNANO of Prefectura Naval Argentina (Grid Square FD65BI), on March 20 starting 15.00Z, till March 22rd  at 03:00Z. Operation 10-80 mts SSB, CW, PSK (probably RTTY as well).

LU9XT Luis Groh, Secretary, & LU5XPP  Pablo Miskulin, President of RC Ushuaia.  TNX LU6XV Pablo    

A Bright Spot of life in the Icy Continent  

Posted by Adam Brown K2ARB

This past Saturday (3/15/2008) National Public Radio (US) aired an excellent fourteen-minute story on life at the Amundsen-Scott South

Pole Station, explaining why the US is at the Pole, describing the work there, and interviewing members of the South Pole staff. I highly recommend it to all Antarctica enthusiasts!   TNX KC4/K2ARB - VP8DKF 

Click on the image here at the left to be transferred on the NPR  web site page , then make your choice to get the "Way down South" video broadcast and then the fourteen minute audio broadcas on top of the page.

RUSSIAN EXPEDITION to ANTARCTICA

Source www.qrz.ru

A large Russian Antarctic Expedition did start last March 13^th , at  8.00  leaving from Cape Town, South Africa,  on board of "Academician Fedorov" on a route to Antarctica.

Planned goals and dates are the following:
Station Progress (from March, 23 till March, 30th), WAP RUS-11.
Station Mirnyj (from April, 4 till April, 6th), WAP RUS-07.
Station Molodezhnaya (from May, 14 till May, 16th), WAP RUS-08.
Station Novolazarevskaya (from April, 20 till April, 24th), WAP RUS-09.
There is a plans for visiting 2 more Antarctic bases including possibly Maitri Base WAP IND-03. Leading of Expedition is Valey Sushkov RW3GW (pic on the left),  who did replace Yuri Zaruba UA9OBA actually very busy. The Team includes the head of  film-radioexpedition Michael Botchkarev (ex: UAØXB).
During film-radioexpedition the radioamateur callsign used from territories of the Russian Antarctic stations will be R1ANT, while from on board of  "Academician Fedorov "  they will use R1ANT/MM. Special QSL VIA RW3GW  the general producer and the author of the project "Antarctica".

TNX Alberto IT9MRM, TNX OM5MF for picture

French Base Marret.

Pioneering French Antarctic research station called Port-Martin Base, located 66° 49' South, 141° 23' East was the first real French settlement built in Antarctica in 1950. All buildings and installations have been partly destroyed by fire during the night of 23-24 January 1952.

In the summer  of 1952, the 3^rd French expedition under the command of  Mario Marret , did build a small wooden structure  little away  of  Port-Martin (66° 41' S, 140° 01' E) and called it “Base Marret”. Base Marret on Petrel Island, was chosen as overwintering site for 1952/1953 season . Seven men wintered over there, where, up to now, it is an ideal location to study a rookery of Emperor penguins. On the North-East headland of Petrel island there is a Memorial Cross,  erected in memory of André Prudhomme, chief meteorologist of the 3rd French International Geophysical Year expedition, who disappeared during a storm on 7 January 1953 .

Port-Martin, Marret Base and  Prudhomme Memorial Cross, are actually historical & protected areas.

A new main base, 62 km to the West of this ancient structures, was  built on the same island and opened on 12^th  January 1956, to serve as center for French scientific research during the Antarctic International Geophysic Year 1957/1958. It  is named after explorer   Jules Dumond D’Urville and being a French scientific station, is operated by the "French Polar Institute Paul-Émile Victor", a joint operation of French public and para-public agencies.  Dumond D’Urville (DDU) is located on Petrel Island, one of the  islands belonging to Pointe Geologie archipelago, 66° 40’ S, 140° 01’E  in Adelie Land. It can accommodate about 30 winter-over people and 120 during the summer.

Thanks to Francois F8DVD we have for Marret Base, a picture and building  plan to show to the WAP readers. Any eventual future operation from Port Martin & Marret Base will qualifying them as "new entry" on the WAP Dbase and a New-Ref. number will be given accordingly.

Enjoy it … always at WAP...where else!

S-Y Bona Terra sunk by heavy storm near Cape Horn.

Posted by Stan SQ8X (ex SQ8AQD)

Stan wrote: Hello very sad news arrived from South Chile.
Sailing Yacht  "Bona Terra" did sink after sudden, massive storm next to Cape Horn. Janusz SP9YI/MM is safe,  he has been rescued by Chilean Forces. The sunk yacht has gone lost. Stan SQ8X did made a translation of Polish Press Agency' news that has just appeared in Polish media:
Polish yacht "Bona Terra" has undergone serious failure in storm near Cape Horn. Captain Janusz Sowiński was trying a solitary crossing of pacific ocean. Wind speed did exceed 188 km per hour, with wave  over 8 meters height. Both of masts have undergone breakdown, hull has got serious damages. Captain Sowiński made call by radio equipment and two aircraft did take off while two rescue units reached him; however, they didn't manage to rescue the boat. Seaman went evacuated from yacht by military rescue forces, health condition of Capt. Sowiński are good. Chilean Navy decided not to save the yacht in such of hard conditions. TNX Stan SQ8X

Go also to read the spot posted here at "WAP New & Information" on last 2 Nov.2007, about SP9YI/MM (See: Archive 3 here on the side). WAP community wish Capt. Janusz Sowiński all the best,  for a fast recovery at home !

POLARSTERN XXIV-2 2007-2008

"R/V Polarstern" was again sailing to the edge of the ice shelf!  Material for "Neumayer III" was downloaded  and building works for the new WAP DEU-08 are now proceeding fast. Perhaps next season we’ll be able to hear  Neumayer III on the air!

On the meanwhile, thanks to Dr. Eddy De Busschere @ BPES (Belgian Polar  Expedition Society) we can share this brand new philatelic gift coming from Antarctica.

TNX Eddy De Busschere

5th AAW QSLs

The first QSLs of participants are coming and we would like to thanks everybody for having done such a great job. Antarctic Activity Week is becoming a true International event which is involving Hams worldwide , ant that is proved by the participation of some very important names of the international DX scene. TNX W5BOS

We remind the owner of WAP-reference to send their logged QSOs (number of contacts made) to Mr. Nuccio Meoli IØYKN e-mail:

nucciomeoli@libero.it  to fill out the score of the 5^th AAW. The highest logged QSO will be prized by a special plaque during the SRT (Strange Radio Team) Meeting next April 12 & 13. To get more info send an e-mail to IØYKN nucciomeoli@libero.it or visit SRT web site at:

http://www.strangeradioteam.com/idxc/index.asp .  WAP Staff

LAGOON Island Refuge (WAP GBR-NEW) 

Alan Cheshire VKØLD, on his mail of 19 June 2007, did report an interesting subject:

Lagoon Island – it’s basically a permanent refuge hut on a small island about 5 km from Rothera. It is completely separate from Rothera and often used as a weekend retreat for base members who want to "get away from it all". It is easy to get there during the winter because of the sea ice, of course. Lagoon Island is a refuge hut and is described as a separate facility by BAS and recognised as such by other organisations.

Here are some more details:

Few km from Rothera  there are a couple of islands easy to reach at any time. Leonie Islands is where one can enjoy icebergs, penguins, cormorants and other wildlife. The northernmost of the Leonie Islands, about 5 km from Rothera Point,  lying in the entrance to Ryder Bay on the South East side of Adelaide Island we can find Lagoon Island 67° 35' 40"    South, 68° 14' 010"  West . Discovered by the French Antarctic Expedition 1908-10, under Charcot, the island was charted by the BGLE under Rymill in February 1936.

Lagoon is so named for the shallow lagoon on its West side, which is a popular spot for elephant seals and where  a large number of juveniles dozing in the summer sun. Approaching the island from the sea in summer time, the eye capture a little building, called Lagoon Island Refuge, as written on the door of it. This in reality, is  a pleasant little wooden hut with 4 bunk beds,  which is used for biosciences expeditions and jollies throughout the year. Lagoon Island refuge, will be add to the list on WAP Directory as GBR-New , while waiting some  activations. Other islands on Ryder Bay are: Horseshoe Island (67°51' S, 67°12' W), Leonie Island,  Anchorage Islands, Killingbeck Island, Cona Islet = Cone Island (67°41' S, 69°10' W), Neny Island (68°12' S, 67°02' W). TNX VKØLD for details  & F5PFP for the pics

M/V Saga Ruby heading North

Posted by John G7MAR/MM

Hi WAP, not heard many on the air, the only real day I had on all bands was last Sunday at this time. Anyway progressing well and are just entering webcam view at Gatun Locks , Panama Canal. Check:
http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html .

Yellow funnel, that’s us....... We are 6 hours behind zulu with clocks. When we are closer I shall join the Network again, unfortunately it clashes with my job at the moment. Hope you are keeping well.

Rgds John G7MAR.

HI John, it looks great! I just did capture a couple of pics from the web cam. Thanks John for the nice contacts G7MAR/MM  when he was in Antarctica .

WAP ...where else...?

New South Pole Station

A heavy carpenter crew, did remove the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station sign welcoming people to the iconic dome building, which will be removed in the coming years. The iconic sign that welcomed one and all to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Dome was safely down from its 30-year perch over the entrance. His high-profile project for the construction of storage arches for cargo could now begin in earnest. This and more at last issue of “The Antarctic Sun” available at http://antarcticsun.usap.gov or directly from WAP web site by clicking on the dedicated AntSun icon to the right from the Home Page.

TNX Peter Rejcek, The Antarctic Sun Editor

New Antarctic Award from Argentina

Posted by Horacio Ledo, LU4DXU

Very shortly a new Argentine Antarctic Award will be launched by Radio Club Rio de la Plata.  Name of the Award is WAAB (Worked Argentine Antarctic Bases), a full coloured A3 format as per the sample hereby shown. Radio Club Rio de la Plata will provide through Horacio LU4DXU the rules and a list of the Bases which qualify for the Award, and it will be add on the World Wide Antarctic Award pages at: http://www.waponline.it/WapAwards/tabid/61/Default.aspx   here on WAP web site. Happy for the initiative; we’ll apply for WAAB as soon as the rules will be available.

TNX LU4DXU

WAP Photo Gallery

In the spirit of  getting always preferable, from today the WAP Photo Gallery is fully accessible up here by a simple click on PHOTO Gallery’s logo at the Left  panel of this web site.  There are several albums available at your choice!

Bases & Stations, Operators, Sceneries, marine life, Fying in Antarctica, Penguis and much more. Try it now and enjoy it!

…and enjoy Antarctica as we do!

Alessandro IZ1HKE & Gianni I1HYW

International Polar Day

March 12th, 2008 marks the third of the quarterly International Polar Days, this time focusing on the Changing Earth; Past and Present.

The IPY Science Day on March 12th will focus on change over geological time, especially the glacial and interglacial periods that have occurred during the past million years, and cycles of ocean- atmosphere interactions that give rise to regional climate variations on scales of decades to centuries.

XVIII week of Scientific Culture will be celebrated next 3 to 9 March  in Genova at Museo Nazionale dell’Antartide (www.mna.it) by a cycle of Conferences lectured by Italian researchers of the University of Genova.

TNX Maurizio IZ1GJK

"Caboose" hut , Adelaide Island-Antarctica

Posted by Medhi F5PFP on French F5NOD’s Antarctic reflector

Tris (VP8ROT-MMØTJR) will leave Rothera  in about a month. Before leaving the Base, Tris will operate with 100W+dipole under VP8/MM0TJR/p from the "Caboose" hut which is located 3km away from Rothera, this coming week end  8-9 March  (All time NEW ONE and valid for Antarctic challenge). QSL via F5PFP.
The new radio officer at Rothera Base WAP GBR-12,  is also an amateur radio operator. Ian GØVZM is expected though under VP8ROT. TNXF5PFP 

It’s interesting to read what Alan Cheshire VKØLD did report about "Caboose" subject on his mail of 19 June 2007: At the risk of being considered a "kill-joy", just for clarification, the Rothera "caboose-hut" is not a hut; it is a caboose (simply a box mounted on a sled that is moved around). It is either a hut or a caboose – it can't be both. The most common use of a caboose is for living accommodation for tractor trains on long traverses across the ice cap. Perhaps the meaning of "hut" & "refuge" needs to be better defined to be "a permanently built hut or refuge, not capable of being easily moved". Otherwise, every place where a person sleeps in a tent, or even stands still should be considered to be a separate "base", which is a silly idea. Anyhow, the ski-way was within the base limits whilst I was at Rothera (i.e. you didn't need special permission from the station manager to go pas the station limits - you just got a skidoo and went). 73 Alan

Being Rothera Caboose Hut, located within the Rothera Base limit (as reported by Alan), could not be  valid for WAP-WADA Award, unless something may have changed in the time been. WAP Staff needs other specifications, before taking a decision. 

Callsign(s) eventually used to operate from there, will be OK for WAP-WACA.

On http://76south.blogspot.com/2005_12_01_archive.html there is an article which shows what is a Caboose hut.

VA2WAP Antarctic Activity Week WAP-109

Posted by Pierre L'Homme VE2LHP

HI WAP, We got fun this year, but the band was very bad here, We make around 300 QSO's . While I can confirm my participation in the 6th AAW next year again as VA2WAP WAP-109, please find hereby enclosed my special  QSL, which can be requested from now and ahead. 

QSL manager : VE2LHP

TNX Pierre VE2LHP

AY7X "Expedicion MOAT"

Posted by Pablo D’Augero LU6XV

At the beginning of this month  we will get the new QSLs from the printer.  Drawing of this QSL has made by Omar LU1XWD, to whom we say thanks. The rear side has to be modified a bit, that’s the reason of delay. 

We estimate to start sending cards to those who did requested them  from March 11^th.

Thanks for your patience and keep up the good work with WAP.

Pablo LU6XV - Award Manager LU8XW/AY7X

WAP Staff, remind the chasers that AY7X counts for WAP as ARG-23 

AO1WAP   WAP-135

Posted by: From Luis EA1CS

Luis wrote: Antarctic Activity Week was a great success, with a lot of interest and every day huge pile up! I’m sending the data of the operation from our side and  a sample of our QSL which can be requested to EA1CS direct (QRZ.com) or by the bureau. 

AO1WAP made 6301 QSO´S , 15 through 160 mts, as follow:

CW         2219 qso´s                               

SSB       3140 qso´s

PSK 31   426  qso´s

RTTY     516   qso´s

We’ll see all the Antarctic Chasers next year for  the 6th AAW.

Un saludo & 73´s, Luís EA1CS, www.ea1cs.blogspot.com