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Copyright – VK9MT Team 2014-2015

18 March – 12 April 2014

Australia The Land Down Under

• Capital City:• Canberra

• Largest City:• Sydney (4m)

• ~24 million people• Mining• Bauxite• Coal• Copper• Diamonds• Gold• Uranium• Gems

• Vineyards / Wine• Tourism• Forestry• Fisheries• Farming

• Sheep• Dairy

The First VK9MT Planning Session

George HA5UK, Pista HA5AO, Les W2LK, Gene K5GS

Budapest, Hungary – June, 2013

Mellish Reef

• 22nd Clublog Most Wanted DXCC list, 2014

• Last DXpedition in Mar/Apr 2009• Experienced a cyclone• 2 ops• 20,000 QSOs• 50%+ on the low bands• No RTTY

• Goal: ATNO to as many as possible

• RTTY

Landing Requirements

• Quarantine Requirements– None

• Team Members Required (our requirement)

– Emergency evacuation insurance– Medical insurance

• Landing permission– Not required before 1 July, 2014– Boat must have Australian license to operate in the Coral

Sea, and minimum of $10,000,000 liability insurance– Follow documented environmental protection rules– Beginning 1 July, 2014 landing permit will be required

• Prohibited:– Camping– Building permanent structures– Fires– Leaving anything on the reef– Annoying the wildlife

Mellish Reef Population

Mellish Reef Population

Mellish Reef Population

Ground Hazards

Markers to Protect the Nests

Mellish Reef Population

Hermit Crab

• The island is tropical in nature

– Temps 80 - 90F / 27- 32C

– Humid

– Storms - heavy rain

– Hot Sun

– No shade

• Trade winds ~ 20 knots– We experienced 40 – 50 knot winds due to the cyclone

• Health Exposures– Sun / wind burn– Contaminated fish

• Ciguatera

Climate

1. Pista HA5AO Hungary Team Leader

2. Les W2LK USA Co-Team Leader

3. Gene K5GS USA Treasurer

4. Dave K3EL USA

5. Glenn KE4KY USA

6. Mike WA6O USA

7. George HA5UK Hungary

8. Luke VK3HJ Australia

9. Heye DJ9RR Germany

10. Norbert DJ7JC Germany

11. Luigi IV3YER Italy

The Team

Mike WA6OSan Jose, California

George HA5UKBudapest, Hungary

Gene K5GSDivide, Colorado

Pista HA5AO Budapest, Hungary

Heye DJ9RR Stockelsdorf, Germany

Les W2LK Ulster Park, New York

Glenn KE4KYFisherville, Kentucky

Luke VK3HJ Benloch, Australia

Norbert DJ7JCEssen, Germany

Dave K3ELPrinceton, New Jersey

VK9MT Team with Skipper

L-R: Pista HA5AO, Gene, K5GS, Luke VK3HJ, Mike WA6O, Heye DJ9RR, Norbert DJ7JC Steve – skipper, George HA5UK, Luigi IV3YER, Glenn, KE4KY, Les W2LK, Dave, K3EL