Mese: Aprile 2025

VU2DGR, op Denney George (Home QTH Mavelikara, Kerala) is showing up from Bharati Research Station (WAP IND-Ø4) at Larsemann Hills signing AT44I.
Denney has been reported recently (25 & 28 April 2025) on 20 mts, 14244MHz (+/-)  around 05,00 UTC long path for EU, so, antenna pointed through the North.

VU2DGR, Denney George is working among the 44th Indian Scientific Expedition to the southern Continent. The 44th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (44-ISEA) has two potential return timelines depending on whether the scientist is working during the summer or winter season. Scientists working during the summer season (October-November 2024 to February-April 2025) would return by April 2025. Those working during the winter season would return between December 2025 and March 2026.

Finger crossed while hoping to put AT44I on the log.
QSL via VU2DGR.
Ads for direct QSL: 
Denney George, Kizhakkemala Kizhakkethil, Kunnam P.O, Mavelikara Alappuzha Kerala, 690108, India.

Departing from the Drake Passage (South America) on December 5, 2024, Fedor Konyukhov RØFK reached the longitude of Cape Agulhas (South Africa) in 68 days, setting a world record as the first person to row across the South Atlantic. He also celebrated his 73rd birthday in the South Atlantic on December 12, 2024.The estimated finish point in Western Australia is 3,270 miles away (6,100 km).
Fedor Konyukhov  was sailing on the rowing boat “AKROS” from Cape Horn (Peri Antarctic area) to Cape Luin (Australia). On February 6, at the border between the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, a historic meeting of the scientific research vessel Akademik Fedorov and the AKROS boat took place.

Day 114. It was decided to end the expedition!
After assessing all the damages and malfunctions on board the AKROS rowing boat, the crew suggested that Fyodor Konyukhov complete the transition for technical reasons and evacuate aboard the passing vessel. This decision was supported by all the project partners.

In the coming days, on March 30-31, favorable weather will be established in the area where the AKROS boat is located. The vessel will be able to get close enough and launch a boat to arrange a transfer. They will try to raise the AKROS boat, if it fails, Fyodor Konyukhov will conserve all systems, close the hatches and drift towards Australia with the Iridium Rock Star satellite buoy turned on for possible further towing to the port.

The reasons for this decision.
At that moment, the boat’s key control and life support systems were out of order. Fedor confirmed that a new one was been added to the current malfunctions — the autopilot control unit has completely failed. This means that in the conditions of future storms, the boat would not be able to keep on the set course and it inevitably got sideways to the wave, which would  lead to new overturns and critical damage.

Read more on the official website: https://konyukhov.ru/en/news/

March 31, 2025
Early morning. A familiar call from a familiar Iridium number, as if it were another day of the expedition, but this is a different reality and Fyodor Konyukhov is in different conditions.

Fedor called in a good mood. “The first night, I slept on a flat bed and on white sheets. A hot shower, white sheets, a spacious cabin, no rocking, and a bed are luxuries. It’s some other world. All these days and nights I slept with my feet against the bulkheads, in the strut, the boat was falling from side to side. Saved the vest under my head. And there were two pillows and a bed that you can’t roll off!
I live on the lower deck, the porthole does not open. Breakfast is brought to the cabin (to the infirmary). Water in the cooler, drink as much as you want. They promised to take me on an excursion to the engine room. As a motorist, this is interesting to me (I served in the Baltic on medium amphibious assault ships in the BCH-5).
I’m getting used to Asian food, everything is very spicy and there are a lot of spices for me, I’m not used to such a variety of flavors. There are freeze–dried foods in the ocean every day. I looked at myself in the mirror, and I felt like I had lost 15 kilograms. I lost weight like this, three times: in 2000, when I ran in the IDITAROD dog sled race through Alaska, in 2012 after climbing Mount Everest, and in 2013 when we went skiing and dog sledding across the Arctic Ocean from the North Pole to Canada (Ward Hunt Island) with my friend Viktor Simonov. In all three expeditions, there was extreme physical exertion and plowing.
I’m going through yesterday’s evacuation again. 115 days in the ocean were difficult and risky, but the evacuation was the height of the risk. When people think that you called, a ship came to you and took you on board, this is a misconception. In the open ocean, especially in such latitudes, the chances of crossing without serious injury are 50-50. Thank God, I managed to get on board the cargo ship alive and well. The weather was optimal, we managed to get into the weather window, and if the weather was like on February 6, when the Akademik Fedorov was approaching, you couldn’t move in such weather.

WAP wishes readers and Antarctic enthusiasts a Happy Easter, a celebration of PEACE among peoples.

From Antarctica to the Arctic, from the North Pole to the South Pole, one word, “Peace”.
Peace  among Nations, Peace and serenity in all families.

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Happy Easter and Happy Easter holidays,                                                               20 April 2025

 

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Lt. Danilo Collino of the Italian Army, has been in Antarctica following the Summer season 2024-2025. Danilo did operate as IAØ/IZ1KHY and IAØ/IZ1KHY/P from various sites: Concordia Station (WAP MNB-Ø3), Mario Zucchelli Station (WAP ITA-Ø1),Little Dome C-Beyond Epica Camp (WAP MNB-15), IZ1KHY/IAØ/Mobile and Dome C-Summer Camp (WAP MNB-14).

5 different QSLs, one for each of the five locations,  are now ready to send. Hams who did work Danilo can request the cards which will be available (direct  only) through the

QSL Manager,  I1URL:
Orlando Collino,
Via V. Bersezio 1
12010 VIGNOLO (CN) – Italy 

 

                   

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TNX Danilo Collino IZ1KHY

Will Ruskaya Station soon again on air?  Here below, something good to know!
Russkaya Station  (WAP RUS-12) was a Soviet Antarctic Research station located at 74°46′South, 136°52′West (Ruppert Coast, Marie Byrd Land in Western Antarctica). The station was proposed in 1973 and approved in 1978. Construction began in 1979 and it was opened on March 9, 1980. Russkaya Station was put in storage in 1990.
Polar explorers have visited it three times since then, but the Station has not fully resumed operation, Alexander Klepikov (Deputy Director of the Russian Institute of Arctic and Antarctic Research) said,  adding that it would be recommissioned by Roscosmos, the State Corporation for Space Activities, is Russia’s space Agency, which manages the Country’s space industry, including space flights, cosmonautics, and aerospace research.  

“Roscosmos is present at practically every of our stations but Vostok. It is installing equipment to monitor Russian satellites and spacecraft. They need a spot in the Russkaya station’s area as when one of our satellites fly over there it’s not visible,” Klepikov said.
Russkaya is unique: “it is situated in a difficult-to-access coastal area in the Pacific sector of Antarctica, The window for getting to the Russkaya Station is three weeks, between February 15 and March 10. We did visit it in 2020, deliver some cargo, run some tests, and see what is inhabitable and what isn’t.  A seasonal team did land there in 2021 to put the Station into working order. Most importantly, we need to replace the diesel power unit and communication systems,” Klepikov said.

Polar explorers have identified a site for the construction of a new wintering complex at the Pole of Winds in Antarctica.  Specialists of the 70th Russian Antarctic Expedition of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, conducted technical studies to reconstruct the Russkaya Station and prepare it for year-round operation. Sites for the construction of a new wintering complex, science pavilions and an aircraft landing strip have been identified on the coast of Mary Byrd Land near Cape Berks.

To plan the construction of new facilities, a detailed analysis of the engineering, geological and climatic features of the area, energy and life support systems optimal for this area, taking into account logistical capabilities and safety requirements, was carried out. During their stay at the Russian Russkaya  Station, the scientists also completed a short-term research program. Including studies of the structure of the Antarctic slope front, the structure and circulation of waters in the shelf and the continental slope near the Russian station were conducted from the ship along the meridian of 138°30 °D.

Russkaya is the only Station on a stretch of coast stretching over one and a half thousand kilometers and one of the least studied areas of the Pacific sector of Antarctica. Polar explorers call this place the Pole of Winds, as the wind speed here reaches 75 m/s. February and March are the only months of the year,  when ice conditions and weather conditions allow ships to approach the Station and carry out scientific research.

“There are only about two hundred votes left to be the first “FAI Place of the Heart” in Friuli Venezia Giulia Region of Italy.
This hoped-for result would allow patrons to be involved in the renovation of the building that has never been finished. All citizens (especially students) are invited to share and consider voting for the Memorial by April 10, when the FAI Census expires” is the appeal of Prof. Julius Fabbri IV3CCT (pic aside).

FAI (https://fondoambiente.it/il-fai/mission/) is a non-profit foundation established in 1975, using the National Trust as a model, with the aim of protecting and enhancing Italy’s historical, artistic and landscape heritage.

Now, the request addressed to the Antarctic chasers, followers & lovers is to vote for it!
Just go to: https://fondoambiente.it/luoghi/mavi-memoriale-dell-antartide-valle-italia-cepparo-bove?ldc  and click on Vote with 1 click, that’s it!

The initiative promoted by Prof. Julius Fabbri IV3CCT (aka II3BOVE WAP-271), wants to be a stimulus to the delegation that the next 23 Jun – 3 Jul 2025, in Milan, Italy, will join the 47^th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the 27^th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection and discuss/approve the proposal of turning what remains of the Giacomo Bove Base  into a Historic site in Antarctica (HSM). (The pic aside, shows  Giacomo Bove Base at the time of its construcion-1976)

The National Memorial of Antarctica (MnA) hosts 9 flags: Argentina, Chile and England claiming territorial sovereignty. USA; Poland; Ecuador; Peru and Brazil for the Antarctic Specially Managed Area n.1 and Italy. Despite its international importance, it is abandoned, but your vote will revive it. The MnA was created by students together with their teacher of natural sciences in the high school at Cervignano del Friuli (UD) Italy, with the aim of being the starting point for designating what remains of the Giacomo Bove base in Antarctica, as Historic Site or Monument (HSM).

Inaugurated in 2018, the MnA is a scale 1:1 remote reconstruction (ex situ conservation) of the ruins of the first Italian Scientific Base built in 1976 by Cav. Renato Cèpparo in Valle Italia on the Antarctic Peninsula (a strategic location of naturalistic value) and named after Giacomo Bove an Italian explorer.

Inside the Memorial, located in the garden of the Malignani high school, there is an olive tree, a symbol of peace. The MnA was created thanks to the generous donation of stones by the entrepreneur Ermes Godeassi of Strassoldo-Italy. The exhibition panel was offered by CrediFriuli. Sponsors are: Giacomo Bove and Maranzana Cultural Association (AT); MIC Ministry; UNESCO Club of Udine, FAI of Trieste, Italian Geographic Society; CAI; CONI; Alpini (ANA), Sailors (ANMI); Civil Protection, Radio Amateurs (ARI); Municipality of Cervignano del Friuli (UD).

Objectives:
1) To sensitize diplomats to nominate it as historical site in Antarctica (HSM)
2) To transmit the values ​​of the FAI to young people
3) To reach 2501 votes to participate in the competition and recover the Memorial.
The MnA was presented in Switzerland at POLAR18 in Davos and at the Archaeological Museum of Naples as part of a national UNESCO competition which it won. Two (scale 1:50) models of the Giacomo Bove Base and the Memorial, are also hosted by a in Ushuaia Museum.
TNX Prof. PHd Julius Fabbri IV3CCT_II3BOVE