Press Release #2 – Expedition Postponed
Much has happened since the first press release was issued on August 27th. A few days later, we got word that the 2009 MM0RAI/p Rockall team were again going to attempt an activation of EU-189 at the end of September. To cut a long story short, IOTA chasers will be aware that the Belgian team did eventually activate the island, with the aide of a converted navy rescue vessel and large inflatables – we congratulate MM0RAI/p on their achievement as we all know how heavy the seas can be out there in Autumn.
With careful consideration and much deliberation, we have decided to postpone our intended activation of the islet for at least one year. This decision was not taken easily considering our planning and organisational aspects were going extremely well. Suffice to say, we believe an activation so soon after the Belgian effort now makes Rockall a less attractive target – that is the crux of our decision.
It is not lost on us that the majority of the world, outwith a proportion of Europe, still require EU-189 for their IOTA scores. With that in mind, this planned activity will not be cancelled, only postponed.
All donations will be refunded. We thank sincerely those kind operators and groups who pledged financial support.
What we can say is that another excellent location/target is now being organised. This involves a rare DXCC and IOTA. However, unlike MS0INT 2012 plans, we prefer to keep silent on this, and only release news and website one week before departure, sometime in mid-2012.
Rockall is an extremely small, uninhabited, remote rocky islet in the North Atlantic Ocean. Discover the fascinating story of this island, 
Please consider a donation to this most difficult and challenging island activation. EU-189 is extreme. Your kind 
7 comments
Please remember that only a few EUs made the qso with EU-189. The MM0RAI/p expedition was one of those things that must be forgotten … more then ever, a good operation is still needed by amateurs from all over the world. Remember that they only was active on 40 meters and worked (99% of the qsos) EU. We never heard in SA !!!
These guys risked their lives Fred! I know guys from NA and SA were disappointed. Sadly these 2 men didn’t have any CW experience. 2 other men tried to get on but couldn’t get on because the tide was to low for them to get on. I wish Col and his team all the luck in 2013. But remember, it won’t be easy!
Spero che il motivo del postponed sia dovuto solo alla recente attivazione del team belga. Quest’ultimo è da lodare per l’incursione effettuata a valle di un viaggio con mare da paura e vari tentativi intrapresi per approdare sullo scoglio, ma in 12 ore circa di attività effettuata per 98% in 40 m (a parte il pirata in CW, sembra che abbiano fatto qualche QSO in 20)e una incredibile massa di Idioti e QRMer, quanti QSO avranno caricato sul loro log? Non sono in diritto di dire che l’Invoker team sia migliore di quello belga, ma credo fortemente che se fossero partiti nella prossima estate alla volta di the Rock, probabilmente, visto il periodo, avrebbero sicuramente raggiunto traguardi migliori, anche perchè il team ormai è collaudato alla grande per attività estreme da isole, soprattutto in quei mari. A questo punto sono molto dispiaciuto perchè, personalmente non essedo riuscito a collegare l’isola per via di disturbi e disturbatori e perchè mi mancava il QRO, sia io che amici aspettavamo con ansia l’attività degli Invoker.
I try in english…
I hope that the reason of the postponed depend only by the recent Belgian’s activity. This last one is a good job (FB) for the incursion, after a travel with seasick and several undertaken attempts on the rock, but in twelve hours of activity, for 98% in 40 m (apart the pirate one in CW, seems that they have made some QSO in 20) and an incredible mass of Idiots and QRMer, how many QSO will have loaded on theirs log? I can’t say that the Invoker team is better than Belgian team, but I belive that if they had left in the next summer to the Rockall, probably, they would sure have caught up better goals, because also the team is tested for extreme activities from various islands, above all in those seas. To this point I’m very sad because, I don’t have EU-189 on my log, because in the last expedition, was a lot of QRN and QRM’ers and because I don’t have the QRO, anyway I and my friend waited for the Invoker opportunity.
Sad news…
EU-189 is the only EU island group I still have NOT in my collection.
I was listening on MM0RAI/P frequency on 40M almost during all the time of their activity, but couldn’t hear a beep… Meanwhile propagation to UK on 20 meters was excellent until 2100z.
But on 40M was impossible to hear them…
So my next chance to add EU-189 in my collection is your expedition…
73 Boyan LZ1BJ
At my QTH, it was almost impossible to hear the MM0RAI/p team so I was waiting for Your operation to get EU-189 in the log. Too bad thad expedition had to be postponed. 73.
At last, let us know, how many QSO’s in the log?