From: dxcoffee@alt119.net.remove-cqv-this   
      
   14 October 2015   
   The Team informs DxCoffee Readers:   
      
   Update 12#   
   On the morning of 12 Oct we got a break in the weather and were able to   
   dismantle the camps in about 3 hours and get the equipment back to the boat.   
   It took several more hours to store everything and prepare to get under way.   
   At 2PM local we set sail for    
   Noumea and quickly found ourselves in very windy conditions and "confused   
   seas". With 2 - 3 meter seas, coming at us from different directions and heavy   
   winds the boat and passengers took a significant beating. On the night of 14   
   Oct the skipper decided    
   to take the boat to the port of Koumac, New Caledonia. The weather forecast   
   indicates conditions will get only worse and the risk of trying to make Noumea   
   wasn';t worth taking.   
   We are currently in Koumac, the plan is to find alternate transportation to   
   Noumea today.   
   We';ll upload the last of the logs today.  I know there are many e-mails   
   asking about contacts and busted calls. We';ll begin the process of working   
   through the NiL and busted calls when we';re near a reliable internet   
   connection. This will probably not    
   be until 19 Oct.   
   The boat will return to Auckland where the Advance Team will unload the   
   equipment and turn it over the customs broker.   
   Team Chesterfield DX-pedition   
   *************************************************   
   10 October 2015   
   The Team informs DxCoffee Readers:   
      
   Update 11#   
   Last night we experienced even stronger winds than what is now typical. One op   
   reported his bed was moving during the night from the wind that was lifting   
   his tent.  We think he was dreaming as it was really several hundred hermit   
   crabs carrying him to    
   their nesting area.   
   Last report we have shows: SFI=80, A=56, K=3, the quality of the signals on   
   this end have been marginal. We know that you are hearing us better than   
   we';re hearing you. With the A having been as high as 77 it';s a miracle you   
   hear us at all.   
   Last night we opened to NA on 40 SSB while competing with an "Over the Horizon   
   Radar"  that was about the same signal strength as most NA signals and   
   atmospheric noise. This continued for about 2 - 3 hours before NA started   
   building. Similar situation    
   with EU, weak signals and radar interference. We appreciated Asia standing by   
   during the NA and later EU openings. We had similar weak signal challenges on   
   30 meter CW, with signals out of EU mostly in the noise. We had good openings   
   on 80 CW. We also    
   had excellent openings on 20 CW to the UK, Nordics, and other northwest EU   
   countries. Until now there';s been very little to no  propagation to that   
   region.   
   The ops are reporting working these long hours under the current conditions is   
   very tiring and not much fun.   
   Since we';re in Asia';s back yard they have propagation the vast majority of   
   time.  They have about 44% of the contacts because we hear them during your   
   propagation lulls, its a simple choice, work Asia or work nothing. While some   
   of you think we';re    
   ignoring NA and EU in favor of AS, the reality is propagation is erratic.   
   Openings are not as obvious to us while we';re working what we can hear. We   
   always call for NA - EU when we hear an opening to those geos.   
   All equipment and the generators continue to work very well. The Evohe crew   
   has been very helpful with guy inspections and maintenance.   
   With 2 operating days remaining we';ll continue to look for NA and EU, and ask   
   all geographies to call if only an All Time New One on any band.   
   Team Chesterfield Island DX-pedition   
      
   ÿ   
   *********************************************************   
   9 October 2015   
   The Team informs DxCoffee Readers:   
      
   Update 10#   
   The wind continues to blow with high intensity.  The tents are holding up   
   very well although the noise from the wind and shaking tents sounds like a   
   never ending freight train, all we';re missing is the train whistle.   
   Fortunately, the RadioSport    
   headsets provide a high degree of noise blocking with excellent sound quality.   
   The operator positions are shaking along with the tent. This morning one op   
   commented that he has complete confidence in the tents -  as he was trying to   
   get some sleep last    
   night the tent was shaking around him as it continued to withstand the   
   constant beating.  We had rain squalls for the first time last night and at   
   the moment it';s raining, we';re surrounded by clouds and the sea is unsettled.   
   Walking to the antennas is a challenge because of the sand depth and high   
   wind.  The antennas are holding up very well. We';re just a few meters from   
   the ocean on both sides, salt spray covers everything. We';re inspecting the   
   antennas daily and washing    
   salt build-up off the insulators. To date, there have been no equipment or   
   generator failures. We';ve experienced high atmospheric noise levels, the   
   Elecraft K3 noise reduction system works extremely well.   
   We';re receiving space weather reports, even the sat phone service was   
   impacted.  This morning even the skipper had problems downloading weather   
   maps.   
   We began taking unused and non essential equipment back to the boat today. Our   
   plan is to take down the stations first thing in the morning Oct 12 (local).   
   We expect it will take the better part of the day to ferry equipment back to   
   the boat and prepare    
   to get underway. The skipper will decide when to leave based on available   
   sunlight and wind conditions. We';re surrounded by submerged coral so he must   
   be able to see the underwater obstacles to navigate to the open sea.   
   We know all too well the frustration some of you may be experiencing.   
   Propagation has been a real challenge, with unexpected openings occurring   
   during times we';re working another geography. Yesterday I was called by a W6   
   on 40 meters long past his    
   sunrise. When we hear these unexpected openings we take advantage of them.   
   And finally, we know there are PSK31 log entries that should be either SSB or   
   CW and a few other problems. We are discussing alternatives to fix the log   
   from the island.    
   We appreciate everyone';s understanding. We can assure you, the conditions in   
   your shack are far superior to those on the island.   
   Team Chesterfield Island DX-pedition   
   ********************************************   
   7 October 2015   
   The Team informs DxCoffee Readers:   
   1. The wind is still very strong.   
   2. While the 80 meter is antenna installed, under these windy conditions we   
   are unable to install the 160 or 6 meter antennas.   
   3. Conditions are erratic, signals have been weak to moderate with some really   
   strong openings.   
   5. We are not hearing some parts of EU.   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
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