BS7H, THE APRIL 2007 EXPEDITION TO SCARBOROUGH REEF

THE APRIL 2007 EXPEDITION TO SCARBOROUGH REEF

DXCC ENTITY: BS7H

Latitude: 15° 07′ N.

Longitude: 117° 45′ E.

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BS7H IS NOW QRT AFTER 45,830 QSOS

The Four Rocks, Photos from the 2007 Scarborough Reef DXpedition

Rock 1, ND2T

Rock 2, K4UJ

Rock 3, OH2BH and BA4RF

Rock 4, W6RGG

9V1YC and BA4RF on first landing, Sunday morning April 29: “You mean THIS is a DXCC entity? We’d better measure it just to make sure it meets the minimum size rule”

Rock 4 under the moonlight as seen by Joe, AA4NN from Rock 1. This photo exemplifies the loneliness and isolation one felt while operating during night time shifts.

James, 9V1YC on 20 mtrs 4 May just before working N1DG 🙂

The low-tide well before sunset made approaching the rocks very difficult and caused operating shifts up to 15 hours! Here is safe area, but walking on the reef for most part was soft with sharp coral masses and hidden empty pockets that made you suddenly drop to your waist and call for help from others. It was very dangerous! Here Paul, K4UJ is making his impossible way to a shift change toward the edge of the reef belt.

The Phillippine fisherman visiting OH2BH on Rock #2. This was the first real encounter with the fishermen, they apparently were looking for water and gasoline rations. After they left the rock, they proceeded to the boat where they were prevented from boarding the boat by N6MZ and “Little Sister” the boat cook, where she stood by with a large butcher knife in case they tried to board the ship. Needless to say everyone was quite uncomfortable with this episode. Notice they were carrying fishing spears. They were forced to leave by the boat crew.

ND2T on rock #2

Max, I8NHJ, at sunset

BA4RC running them

BA1AAX, Wang, at the mike

BA1RB, Fan, at the mike

Mike K9AJ (left) and Joe AA4NN changing shifts.

Rock #3, Christian was the only guy smart enough to bring an air mattress. So if you spent the night on the rocks with him you had the most comfortable sleeping arrangements. Everyone else slept on the wood platform. You can see that you slept between the operators feet and the generator.

No mattress, no problem. When Martti wants a nap, he takes a nap.

What did you think?

9V1YC, BV6HJ, BA4RC and BA4RF on May 6, after clearing off the last of the equipment from Rock 1

Logistics Scenes from the 2007 Scarborough Reef DXpedition

Deep Blue, our transport

The team assembles with the boat captain for initial discussions about the trip and route to the reef.

View of the upper deck of the Deep Blue

Leaving Hong Kong

David taking GPS readings of the reef after our arrival

The GPS results

Chen and David discuss the GPS readings David took while surveying the rocks

First run of wood out to the rocks

Taking radios and supplies out to the rocks

Mr Ko getting ready to build the platform on Rock #1

Starting is the hard part, no where to stand

More construction of platforms

Building the platforms is a team effort

Platform details

Antenna building

Ko securing the ground system

Ko building the butternut

Rock #1 Ground System

Rock #1 before and after.

Rock #2 before and after.

Rock #3 before and after.

Rock #4 before and after.