Wednesday 5th September 2001
Yep! It's a whole year later, and we've finally
got some pictures up here. Check out the Picture
Gallery for our pictorial record. Maybe check back next year to
see if anyone's got their written records here! Can't rush into
these things y'know!
Thursday 21st September
Welcome back, Kevin and "Tearaway".
Yes, Kevin got back to Darwin this morning and we are all breathing a lot
easier. It has been a very anxious time waiting for Tearaway's
arrival, and we applaud Kevin's courage, resourcefulness and excellent
seamanship, plus the wonderful assistance from a group of fishermen in refloating the boat and getting it safely
back to Darwin. Kevin has a lot of tales to tell about his
experience and we're sure we'll all be hearing about them before too
long. Stay tuned, we'll be back soon ....
Sunday 17th September
The IOTA committee has accepted the Browse Island
operation and confirmed OC-234 as a new island.
Thursday 14th September (just!) 11.50
pm
Great news. We've just heard, Kevin's got
"Tearaway" afloat and is en route back to Darwin. Big
excitement here, and lots of relief that he's OK. What an incredible
achievement to have refloated the boat on his own. There must be
another book in there, Kevin! Many, many thanks to all who have
expressed their concern and sent good luck messages for Kevin. We
think celebrations are the order of the day now.
Thursday 14th September
LOGS ARE NOW ONLINE! Go to the "Logs"
page to check for your callsign.
Sunday 10th September
All our operators are now back home and, as
predicted, have heaps of stories about the trip. They're all busy
compiling their tales before memories become blurred with time and
distance. Not that we think that's likely after such a dramatic
DXpedition debut for the TSDXG! Don't think the writing will take
too long, so check back here for further details.
Everyone connected with the DXpedition would like to
express their heartfelt thanks to everyone who assisted in coordinating
the rescue operation and for all the messages of support while they were
real life castaways.
Also as predicted, plotting and planning for the
Cassini Island activation is under way. Current opinion is that it
should be deferred until after the coming wet season when the possibility
of cyclones is over. Having experienced the awesome power of the sea
without cyclonic influence, our guys aren't all that keen to make the
personal acquaintance of even a little cyclone. We think that's
rather a wise decision. Details of the Cassini trip will be posted
here as they become available, so don't go too far away ...
Thursday 7th September 10.15 am Darwin
time
Just heard from VK8DK the guys will arrive back in
Darwin tomorrow (Friday). Everyone safe, sound and cheerful, with
heaps of stories to tell ... stay tuned ...
Tuesday 5th September 10.00 pm Darwin
time
Hope everyone who wanted a contact got on their
radios yesterday because VK6BM is now definitely QRT. Our intrepid
castaways have all been rescued safe and sound from their island paradise. Sigh ...
no more hula dancing ... sob! ... no more surfing, scuba diving,
swimming with the friendly (?) sharks, fishing ... Oh, no! What
about the mermaids? Hey! What about ... RADIO? Well, we
reckon big confabs are on the agenda very, very soon. Lots of
plotting and planning (see item 10 on our timetables page) for the
activation of Cassini. Stay tuned folks, Cassini hasn't been written
off, only delayed ...
Monday 4th September 12.00 midday
Darwin time
Whatd'ya know! Boat still won't
co-operate and our guys are still cooling their heels on
Browse. So ... to make productive use of their enforced stay,
they've set up some equipment again and put VK6BM back on air. Now's
your chance IOTA Hunters! Get a call in quick before some bright
spark gets the boat off the beach! Stay tuned ... more later ...
Still Sunday 3rd September 6.00
pm Darwin time
Well, the boat wouldn't cooperate at high tide and is
still aground, but the guys are confident they will get it afloat on
tonight's tide which is expected to be about 30cm higher. In the
meantime they're sitting tight (haven't got too many options, have they?)
and getting to know the HMAS Geelong crew. The coastwatch plane is keeping
an eye out for them as well. Thanks guys. They have plenty of
supplies so aren't concerned and I think they're considering
digging in for an extended holiday! Keep checking, more later ...
Sunday September 3rd 12.30 pm
... more info. Just heard that HMAS Geelong is
at Browse and its crew is assisting our guys. Thanks a squillion
fellows. All us wives, friends etc really appreciate your
help. More later ...
Sunday September 3rd
Message just received 10.30 am Darwin time.
VK6BM is now QRT from UTC 1.00 am, 10.30 am Darwin time.
Approximately 1758 QSO's have been logged. Exact figures will be
available later.
Conditions on Browse, both on the island and for
mooring, were unexpectedly difficult and high winds overnight drove
Tearaway aground. There doesn't appear to be any significant damage
to the boat apart from some scratches etc. and some food has been lost,
but not enough to cause concern. An attempt will be made to refloat
Tearaway at high tide later today. Kevin, the skipper, will
make a further assessment once the boat is afloat and give a decision
about the remainder of the trip. At this stage, it looks like VK6CJ,
Cassini Island, is still on track, with possibly extra time being
spent there.
All our operators are OK. No injuries but
naturally disappointed at not being able to continue on Browse.
Check back for updates. We'll get information posted here as soon as
we receive it.
Saturday September 2nd
Everything appears to be going well. Wind had
dropped in the Browse area a few hours ago so hopefully, our operators
managed to get the rest of their equipment onto the island and set up.
Friday September 1st
Come on guys! Where are you? Is anybody
out there .... ?
11.15 pm.
Aha! Alan, VK4AAR found 'em. They had very heavy seas which
delayed things considerably, but now have some of their equipment ashore
and set up and are going well. Browse Island now has an IOTA number,
OC-234.
Thursday August 31st
Haven't heard anything from the guys today so I guess
we'll all have to wait till they come up on air! Maybe someone can
leave a message in the guestbook when they start transmitting.
Wednesday August 30th
Phone call from VK8DK, Len, from Troughton this
morning. Reports all well and happy. VK8TM, Terry,
prefers solid land. Curly in seventh heaven. VK6YS, Wally,
having a ball. VK8AN, Dan, relieved to find the party hadn't
forgotten to pick him up from Troughton! Replenished fuel supplies
and set sail again, hoping to get favourable winds for the run to
Browse. Should make Browse in plenty of time to fire up to schedule
and be on air 1st September. Are you keeping an eye on the countdown
on the timetable page?
Tuesday August 29th
Spoke to VK8AN, Dan, on Troughton Island
tonight. Tearaway is expected to arrive at Troughton around midnight
and will anchor offshore for the night. Our intrepid operators cum
sailors had a stiff breeze right on the nose all the way and consequently
had to motor most of the way from Darwin to keep to their schedule.
That's made an unwelcome dent in the fuel supplies and they'll need to
assess the situation before they leave Troughton tomorrow. Check
back for the latest update tomorrow, or listen out for the guys on air
under their own call signs/mm.
Monday August 28th
Well, our guys finally set sail yesterday, Sunday
27th, after a few delays caused by weight distribution on the boat.
Specifically, the weight of all the equipment distributed the boat too low
in the water! But that was soon overcome and off they went into the
midday sun instead of the rising sun. Everyone's pretty confident
the operation will still keep to schedule .... give or take a few hours
here or there!
Keep a listen out over the next few days because they
might be transmitting
under their own call signs/mm while they're under sail. And don't forget to keep an eye on the countdown on the
Timetable page. |