The 3Y0Z DXpedition in 2018 got to within a few hundred yards of Bouvet Island... the 2nd most needed DX entity on the list (after North Korea)... and had to leave when an engine failed on their ship. The 3Y0J DXpedition also had ship trouble. They contracted with the Braveheart, a stalwart ship that had ferried many DXpeditioners to far-flung lands. Then COVID send the Braveheart's owners into bankruptcy and the ship was sold... for scrap . That DXpedition was cancelled before they could even get off the ground (onto the sea). And then it wasn't. They found another ship. The MARAMA is a sailboat, yes, a sailboat, designed to take expeditions to the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic frozen islands. Did we mention that it's a sailboat? The DXpedition was back on! They head to sea in mid-January 2023 and expect to be on the air for 22 days, extending into February. 3Y0J crew member Adrian Ciuperca KO8SCA spent a couple of hours with us on HamRadioNow one Sunday evening and filled us in at length and depth. HamRadioNow programs are available as video on our YouTube channel and Facebook Group, usually recorded live on Sunday nights at 7 pm Pacific / 10 pm Eastern / 0300Z (Monday morning in GMT). The audio is released as a podcast shortly after the show ends. Ask your podcast app for HamRadioNow
Our boat the Marama November 2021 - YouTube fun video on, I believe, the SV identified for the trip. the tag reads "The Marama leaving Ushuaia, Argentina last week for the start of the 2021-22 Antarctic sailing season. In November 2022 it will be the 3Y0J team on board leaving for Bouvet!"
Just two points for clarification: 1) While Covid caused great hardship to Braveheart's owner, there was no Bankruptcy. 2) Braveheart remains available for charter in New Zealand: https://pacific7.co.nz/workboat-braveheart/ Paul N6PSE
A few minutes of googling on my phone indicate that the ship was sold. It does appear to have new owners, and appears to be in service. Without a bankruptcy, I wonder how they got out from under existing contracts. Still, this is just a curiosity as part of the bigger picture.
And you prefer keeping that knowledge to yourself? Adrian says he was a sailor, and that meant he checked out the ship and was satisfied. I checked them out enough to know that this is their native territory. Clearly it works. As to what makes it superior, I am in the dark.
In the OP, an engine failure scuttled the trip. On a sailboat, they are called an ‘auxiliary’ engine for a reason.
as above, yeah, sailboats can always move, don't need a motor. sailboats have a nicer motion at sea, the wallowing of power boats makes me seasick. nothing better than the sound of the wind and waves at sea, with no infernal combustion engine racket to destroy the moment.
You missed from your list the 3Y0I (RebelDX) attempt in 2019 - In their case storms took out the navigation radar and the captain turned them around to head back to Capetown when they were just 70 miles away from the destination. This is another group who got so close but the weather around this little sub-antarctic island creates a lot of difficulties, so good luck to the 3Y0J attempt - God's speed and a safe and fruitful trip. 73 Ed.
God speed to the crew and team! Bouvet at -54 is smack dab in the "Furious Fifties". Sail power is very dependable in the Southern Ocean.
For a taste of what is coming for the crew heading to the island - Sailing the Roaring 40s in 30 foot Waves! Sailing SV Delos Ep. 107 - YouTube --The SV Delos is a French built, 53 foot Amel Super Maram - considered one of the stouter boats sold in the last decade for family sailing. Note - this is 'just' the Roaring 40s, farther south is much more exciting.
It's one hellova sailboat. 101 ft aluminum hull of modern design. https://maramaexpeditions.com/en/sailboat-marama/
