DX Editor,

This is the first official release of information regarding what I am sure will shape up to be one of the most memorable 2002 DXpeditions. Thank you for helping us spread the good word, my friends.

73 Dennis Motschenbacher K7BV

TRINDADE ISLAND DXPEDITION

The Araucaria DX Group, with unprecedented cooperation from Inepar S.A company and its Chairman Oms PY5EG, the Brazilian authorities and Navy, is proud to announce that it will sponsor a major DXpedition to Trindade & Martin Vaz Archipelago, the most eastward point of Brazilian territory.

The DXpedition will operate from Trindade Island situated at 20º 30'S and 29º 18' W (grid locator HG59) 1,142 km east of the southeast Brazil state of Espirito Santo. This will be the first lengthy DXpedition in several years to this much-needed DXCC entity.

Trindade & Martin Vaz Archipelago currently appears in the Top 30 on the "Most Wanted" lists. Occurring near the sunspot peak, tens of thousands of new band/mode DXCC QSOs will be made with country collectors around the world.

The team will depart Rio de Janeiro aboard a Brazilian Navy vessel on February 15, 2002. The team expects to be on the air some time during the late hours of February 18 and to operate non-stop with as many as four stations until their departure on March 2.

Operations on 160 through 6 meters including the WARC bands will include RTTY, PSK31, and SSTV. Amateur satellite activity is uncertain at this time. Special plans have been made to insure that the low bands and 6 meters are activated with appropriate antennas and experienced operators dedicated to overcoming the challenges these bands offer.

DXpedition Leader Andre PY0FF, taking over after months of delicate negotiations by Oms PY5EG, has gathered the following operator team: PY5CC, PY5HSD, PT7BZ, PY7XC, PY7ZY, PY7ZZ, PY0FF, N6FF and W9VA.

The team received very short notice of the departure date therefore intense preparations are underway. The group will be required to pay for at least $12,000 of fuel for the Navy vessel, therefore financial support from the DX community is urgently being sought. Individual financial contributions will be deeply appreciated and acknowledged by the group.

Dennis K7BV, having to cancel as an operator, will head up Publicity and Fund Raising with assistance from Bill W9VA and Steve KU9C.

Watch for the DXpedition website http://www.Trindade2002.com to become active no later than January 19. Direct questions regarding the DXpedition to K7BV k7bv@aol.com or PY5EG Oms py5eg@inepar.com.br until the actual operating begins. Then lead Pilot Station Rod WC7N wc7n@gb.wave.net will take over coordination chores with assistance from Carl N4AA. Rod may add continental Pilot Stations in difficult to reach parts of the world like Asia.

The group is pleased to have the services of renowned QSL Manager Steve KU9C, another operator who had to cancel due to business obligations.

Please send early individual support contributions to K7BV. Your kind contribution can also be sent with your QSL-SASE to KU9C.

Dennis Motschenbacher K7BV
4357 Appollonio Way
Carson City, NV 89704

The Araucaria DX Group would like to express deep thanks to the Brazilian authorities and especially to the Brazilian Navy for its extremely important support that will permit the World Ham Radio Community to contact Trindade Island on all popular modes and bands.

Please visit the Araucaria DX Group website http://www.araucaria.inepar.com.br/

73, Atilano de Oms PY5EG