Rune Øye LA7THA is helping lead the planned VP0SG 2027 South Georgia DXpedition, a major effort to activate one of the rarest DX entities in amateur radio. Rune LA7THA and Erwann Merrien LB1QI bring deep DXpedition experience to the project. Over the years they’ve been involved in activations including São Tomé S9LA, Zimbabwe Z2LA, Zambia 9J2LA, and Namibia V55LA, along with cold-weather operations from Svalbard JW0W and the massive Bouvet 3Y0J expedition. Those experiences—especially the logistical and technical lessons learned during Bouvet—now inform their approach to South Georgia. The team has already secured its expedition vessel, MV Meridian, operated by 60° South Expeditions, and assembled a 14-operator international team. Their plan is to run five stations from a tented camp on the island, with six operators on shore at a time, rotating between the island and the ship for rest. Funding and final permissions are the key milestones ahead. The expedition budget is approaching $400,000, and while the team has received encouraging feedback from the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, the official landing authorization is expected later this year. Once that approval is secured, the team expects broader support from DX clubs, foundations, and individual donors worldwide. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.
If conditions warrant it, I would imagine so. If FT8 is the only way to get through then use the heck out of it.
Nice video! Rune and Erwann are great cold weather Dxpeditioners and they will get this done. Good luck guys!
Yet another great interview with amazing DXers and seasoned expeditioners! Kudos! Almost 50 years ago (I'm 68 now) back in 1975-1985, there were permanent British residents on those remote islands of South Atlantic (I have he QSL cards from VP8SO, South Orkney and VP8SU, South Georgia islands). I knew then that the islands were a part of British overseas lands, but never realized they had a government of their own, the long history and deep ties to Norway and their whalers (the only settlement Grytvik was established by a Norwegian whaler captain). Recently I was reading an article about the harsh lives of whale fishermen and their habitats and makeshift factories for whale oil in Antarctica and the South Atlantic islands...amazing story! The Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands has a very interesting webpage-it provides a great insight into Norwegian ties to South Georgia island. Check it out! https://web.archive.org/web/20090224071027/http://www.mclaren.gs/grytviken.htm
"When things are easy, I hate it. I believe it is in our nature to explore, to reach out into the unknown. The only true failure would be not to explore at all." Ernest Shackleton This seems a very arduous task. To these fine gentlemen, these optimistic and hearty souls, we tip our hats.. We all wish you well and hope that you have a most prosperous voyage. In that will lie your honor and your reward. Best 73, Alan
Nowadays, South Georgia is visited by tens of thousands of tourists on cruise liners every Nov-Feb Antarctic summer season, however permission to stay overnight or mount any kind of expedition there is subject to a very thorough review & vetting process and remains difficult to obtain. That being said, Rune & Erwann have submitted a very comprehensive application and VP0SG stands every chance of receiving formal government approval later this year. For more information on the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands visit: https://gov.gs/ PS: Landing on the South Sandwich Islands is now restricted to government scientific expeditions only. 73 DE VK0LD / VK6CQ ================
Thrilling, I'll look forward to it. Thanks for doing this and have fun. Some years ago I got to take a small ship from Ushuaia to landings by Zodiac on the Peninsula, ending in the South Shetlands where as a newbie got to take (very) brief swim. There are also tour boats to S. Georgia, but they were too much for my budget. This should be a thrilling adventure and I hope we all can share it with you!
As a South Georgia visitor back in 1986 with the British Forces, I had the very rare pleasure of being on that end of the radio link back to the Falkland Islands. The HF radio was the only means of communication that we had. Based at King Edward Point, across the bay from Grytviken we would link up with the British Antarctic Survey guys on Bird Island. Occasionally speaking with the guys from other Antarctic Survey stations on the civilian frequencies, just to check everything was okay with them. I personally cannot wait for the activation as it would be great to work the Island from the other side. Here's wishing everybody the best of luck with the application process and waiting not so patiently for it to happen. Very 73 Gary Warren Royal Signals veteran
