ARLA/CLUSTER: Relato da equipa sobre a ABORTADA DXPEDITION À ILHA DE BOUVET e possível REGRESSO À ILHA

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Bad news from the Bouvet DXpedition team

First let's start with the following chain of events.

On January 31st, at 0600z, the team announced that they have arrived
at Bouvet! There was fog and freezing rain that greeted them. Later
that day, at 1500z, Ralph, K0IR, reported: Bouvet Island came into
view at about 0600 UTC today. We dropped anchor at 0810 UTC in
approximately 25 meters of water off the east side of the island
between Kapp Meteor and Swarthamaren. The temperature is 2 degrees
Centigrade. Thirty five knot winds are blowing out of the northeast
with a driving rain. Visibility and ceiling are estimated at 1 mile
and 500 feet, respectively. We are poised and ready when our weather
window arrives. Our first "strike" team selecting and securing a site
will be EY8MM, K0IR and Alejo Contreras (Chilean Antarctic explorer,
guide and mountaineer).

On February 1st, at 1300 UTC: Ralph, K0IR, reports: Our ship is still
at anchor off the east side of Bouvet. Winds are 35 to 40 knots, and
the ship is pitching and rolling up to 30 degrees. This makes flying
and a landing attempt impossible today. The temperature is hovering at
around
0 degrees C. Visibility has improved. We are poised and ready when a
weather window opens. We had our maritime mobile station up for a few
hours, but had to take it down again to avoid damage caused by the
extreme motion of the ship. Hang in there with us!

AND THEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS --
Valerie, NV9L, posted the following on FaceBook: On February 3rd, at
2000z, During the last 72 hours we continued to experience the high
winds, low clouds, fog, and rough seas that have prevented helicopter
operations since our arrival at Bouvet.
No improvement was predicted in the weather forecast for the next four days.
Then, last night an issue developed in one of the ship's engines.
This morning the captain of the vessel declared it unsafe to continue
with our project and aborted the expedition. We are now on our long
voyage back to Punta Arenas. As you might imagine the team is deeply
disappointed, but safe. There is already talk about rescheduling the
DXpedition.

Bob - K4UEE
Ralph - K0IR
Erling - LA6VM

ALSO READ: http://www.arrl.org/news/3y0z-bouvet-island-dxpedition-aborted-over-safety-concerns

ADDED NOTES: Let's hope the team makes it back safely. Remember to
visit the team's media pages (Twitter, Facebook) as well as their Web
page to read updates, see pictures and videos of their trip:
3Y0Z Web page:
http://www.bouvetdx.org/news-and-updates
3Y0Z FaceBook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/639362206232014
3Y0Z Twitter :
https://twitter.com/Bouvet_3Y0Z
Also remember to follow their voyage by watching the following URL links:
https://share.garmin.com/bouvet
http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/
ais/details/ships/shipid:777230/
mmsi:725000291/imo:7310923/
vessel:BETANZOS#IrjZAqtjXemvHHQW.99