3 December 2001


VP8/sg South Georgia and VP8/ss South Sandwich will be activated on the HF
bands in January and February of 2002.  Operators are EI6FR, EI5IQ, HB9ASZ,
PA3FQA, K0IR, W3WL, K4UEE, VE3EJ, N5KO, K5TR, W7EW and 9V1YC.

Exact dates, callsigns and QSL managers are not being made public until we
are on the air. (Please note that the dates in an unofficial press release
from 425 DX News were NOT correct. They are from an older plan.)

The New Zealand registered vessel "Braveheart" of ZL9CI fame will be
supporting this team of 12 for the entire 30 day trip.

This DXpedition is the result of over two years of planning, coordination,
and detailed permit applications by 9V1YC, EI6FR and N5KO.

A few important points:

1. This DXpedition is funded entirely by the 12 team members and a
   grant by the Northern California DX Foundation.  There are no club,
   individual, equipment or QSL sponsors.

2. There will be no websites, no online-logs, no pilots, and no
   promises of any bands or modes.  Given the dangerous nature of our
   destination we will simply focus on giving out a new overall DXCC entity.

3. Due to heavy environmental and safety restrictions on our permit
   we are taking ultra-light generators, simple antennas and low power.
   Despite a lengthy and difficult application process we are extremely
   grateful to the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
   for their support and cooperation in this endeavour.  Please understand that
   personal safety and a clean environmental approach is as important to us as
   it is to them.

4. Even though we are with an experienced Antarctic-rated support
   vessel and crew, there is always the chance we may not even make it to one
   of our destinations (Thule Island, South Sandwich) due to the extreme nature
   of Southern Ocean.  We are prepared for this, and we hope the DX community
   will be too.

5. Contrary to the 425 press release, this DXpedition is NOT about QSO
   totals.  In fact, it is quite the opposite. Unlike previous DXpeditions you
   may have worked, this time we are taking far less hardware and presenting
   the DX community with much more of a challenge. We feel that DXers need to
   get back to basics and work harder, so this time the burden of working the
   DXpedition is being shifted back home. (The hunt will be part of the fun, so
   if you need either of these two countries as an all time new one we suggest
   you beef up your stations and train your ears.)

6. We may be restricted to 6db less of signal, but we are taking 30db
   more of operator.  You will probably notice many familiar callsigns on the
   roster.


See you on the bands.

James Brooks - 9V1YC