Wife Keeps In Touch With Seafaring Hubby

An antique radio is the only link Donna Sweeney has to her seafaring husband as he sails across the Pacific. David Vincent left Nanaimo more than a year ago to island-hop across the South Pacific. He is living his dream - and Sweeney is keeping track of every detail through her home radio. She searches frequencies each morning for news he's OK. Sailing the open sea can be dangerous when you're travelling it alone.

"This is V47DSW," she says Tuesday morning, listing her call name to an operator at the Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association. "Did you hear from David last night? Go ahead."

A voice crackles over the radio: "All is well. He couldn't talk for long, but he's making his way through the islands and will reach his destination within a couple hours. Go ahead."

Ham Radio on The High Seas

Rockall On The Air

EU-189. Once again a Belgian expedition team will be sailing to Rockall Island at the end of September. Operators mentioned as of press time are: Patrick/ON4HIL, Theo/ON4ATW, Henk/ON4AHF, Karel/ON5TN and Rudi/ON7YT.

Three of these operators have been at, not on, Rockall Island in May 2009. The team will set sail aboard the "Commandant Fourcault" on September 23rd, for a 4 day voyage to Rockall. If all goes as planned, they will be on the air as MM0RAI around September 27th or 28th. Please keep in mind that heavy seas or bad weather can delay the operation! QSL via ON4ATW (LoTW, by the Bureau or direct.

Please visit their Web site for details and updates at: http://www.rockall.be

Belgian Hams on Rockall