CY0S

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The DXpedition to Sable Island (NA-063) is expected to take place sometime in October or November. "As planning continues, the CY0S team faces significant costs. This is by far the most expensive CY0 DXpedition ever. The budget for this DXpedition is $65,000. The team will charter the Sable Aviation fixed wing aircraft, as well as the Vision Air Sikorsky SK-76 helicopter. The team will require two round trip flights with
Sable Aviation and two round trip flights with Vision Air. These charters are at a very significant cost. Additionally, Parks Canada charges for the use of the Visitor Quarters next to the Sable Station. The team members have committed to paying a minimum of 50% of the cost of the DXpedition. Currently, our fund raising is just starting to ramp up. We encourage DXers world-wide who need CY0 to support our efforts": https://cy0dxpedition.net/.

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The 2022 Sable Island DXpedition has launched its new website: http://www.cy0s.com (still a work in progress, new information will be added almost daily). Formal written permission has been granted for a 8-9 day DXpedition in October-November. "Planning continues to go very well", with K4UEE, W4DKS and W0GJ taking care of the antenna system. "Even though Sable Island is 42 km long, space is very limited within the Sable Station compound. The Sable horses, which number over 500, have free run of the island, except for the area around the Sable Station, which is fenced in. The DXpedition team has a relatively small footprint to work with. Additionally, no antennas can be placed on or near the beach as Sable Island is home to tens of thousands of grey seals".

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NEWS UPDATE - In addition to the standard mode operations, good news for 2 Meter EME enthusiasts. Lee WW2DX is planning 2M EME from Sable Island. Sable Island is extremely rare on EME. For more details on this EME activity, check the BAND PLAN posted on the CY0S website. Many know Lee for his successful operations from various DX locations, including the 2016 and 2019 CY9C St Paul DXpeditions.

Pat N2IEN, well known for SAT operations from various DX locations, will provide the opportunity to work CY0S via SAT. The team is excited about the DXpedition this Fall season. Parks Canada has us scheduled for the October/November time frame. Operational requirements on Sable has delayed Parks Canada from being able to determine the exact dates. The team is anxiously awaiting those dates.

Meanwhile, the team is working hard on antenna planning and layout, equipment and logistics. Most of the team will be flying into Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dan W4DKS and Murray WA4DAN will be driving to Halifax with a large van full of gear. Pre-DXpedition expenses are significant. We have been informed by both Sable Aviation and Vision Air Services that fuel surcharges will be required. Currently aviation fuel in Halifax is $9.05 for the US gallon equivalent. Additional support will be very helpful and can be made via the CY0S DXpedition website https://t-rexsoftware.com/cy0s/

[IK0ZCW]

In addition to the standard mode operations, the CY0S DXpedition to Sable Island (http://www.cy0s.com) will see Lee, WW2DX being QRV on 2m EME. Pat, N2IEN will include Satellite operations as conditions permit. The DXpedition is scheduled for the October/November time frame, but Parks Canada has till to determine the exact dates.

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Originally scheduled to take place sometime between October and November 2022, the CY0S DXpedition to Sable Island has been postponed until 20-29 March 2023. "The reason for this significant change is due to a large, six-week project Parks Canada has on the island beginning on October 1 and going to at least mid-November 2022", the team says. "By moving the DXpedition to March 2023, the team hopes to take advantage of the late winter, early spring band conditions and improving solar numbers. On a less positive note, Sable Aviation informed us of another increase in the fuel surcharge for our flights to the island. The fuel surcharge has now doubled". If you are willing to contribute, please use the "Donate" button on http://www.cy0s.com.

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October 5, 2022

A lot of DXers have inquired about Sable Island after Hurricane Fiona made an almost direct hit on the island. Hurricane Fiona had the lowest barometric pressure (931 MB) ever recorded in Canada during any previous hurricane. Fortunately, the news is better than expected on Sable Island. Parks Canada personnel on the island report some of the buildings lost sections of siding and some roof damage. The Parks Canada personnel described the damage as superficial. The NavCan METAR ( Meteorological Terminal Air Report) system was inoperative for 5-6 days until technicians could travel to the island to restore the system.
The hurricane caused some erosion and reshaped part of the island. A researcher who has been on the island for almost 50 years reported it was the worst storm she has ever experienced on the island.

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The 2023 Sable Island CY0S DXpedition team has announced that "a well known DXer and DXpeditioner", who wishes to remain anonymous, has offered "to match any donations to the CY0S DXpedition from this point forward until arrival on the island on 20 March 2023. For example, if a contributor donates 100 USD to the DXpedition, this 100 USD will then be matched for a total of 200 USD".
Meanwhile, the team is working on the antennas and is "continuing to manage and fine tune gear based on the very strict weight limitations for the DXpedition. The team is limited to a total of 2965 lbs [1345 kg], which includes the weight of the operators, radio gear, antennas, antenna mast, long mast stakes for the loose sand, coaxial cables, food and personal gear. Every pound of weight counts and this is a huge challenge".

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On Monday, November 21, Sharon Taratula with the ARRL pre-approved the March 2023 Sable Island CY0S DXpedition for DXCC. The CY0S team submitted to the ARRL the official letter from the Parks Canada-Sable Island manager authorizing the DXpedition. Sable Aviation provided the necessary landing permission, and the team provided the CY0S license permit. One note, due to the always uncertain nature of the weather on and around Sable Island, the team was approved for the dates of March 20-April 5th in case of delays. The scheduled dates for the DXpedition are still March 20-29, 2023 as has been previously advertised. The team has the CY0S QRZ page up and operational. Updates to the QRZ page will be made in the coming weeks.

The overall cost of this DXpedition is now $70,000 US dollars. Both Sable Aviation and Vision Air Services have advised there will be a price increase in 2023 for the flights to the island. We hope to have those new cost figures in December. Please remember that any contributions to the CY0S DXpedition will be matched by an anonymous DX’er. A $100 donation is automatically doubled for a total of $200! This donation match is good up until our departure for Sable Island on Monday, March 20, 2023.

Last week, K4UEE and WA4DAN met up in Columbia, SC to transfer the low band antenna materials. Bob and Murray also discussed the plan for arrival day on the island. WX is almost always an issue on Sable. The average high temperature on the island in March is 3 degrees C with winds of 25 to 30 knots or 55 KM. The METAR on Sable today indicated 28 knot winds with gusts to 38 knots. Winds can gust much higher than that so extra care must be taken with the installation of the antennas and antenna mast. Safety first!

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DXpedition leader, WA4DAN, and the CYØS team now confirm the dates of their upcoming DXpedition to Sable Island DXpedition… March 20-29, 2023.

Sable Island is ranked #50 on the DXCC “most wanted” list and needed by many DXers for filling in “band slots”! We are planning four stations to be QRV 24/7 during our stay on the island.

Each station will use ICOM radio transceivers and 500-watt amplifiers. Modes will be CW, SSB, Digital and EME.

The CYØS team has monoband Yagis for 20, 15 and 10m and a duo-band Cushcraft A3WS Yagi for 12 and 17m. The Team will erect dedicated verticals for 160, 80, 40 and 30m and are planning to lay out 4,000 ft. of radials.

We have chartered a BN-2a Britten Norman Islander from Sable Aviation and a Helicopter from Vision Air Services to facilitate transporting equipment, antennas, eight operators, food and personal gear including warm clothing.

Flights to Sable are often delayed due to poor weather or unfavorable beach conditions. But we have successfully negotiated overnight stays and a 2-3 day extension on our permit.

We are extremely limited in the total weight allowed by both our transportation charters to only 3,000 pounds. This is due to weight and balance considerations. And both charter companies have promised a yet-undetermined rate increase due to higher fuel costs. This is in addition to other expense challenges. The current budget is $75,000 and is likely to go higher.

We have always subscribed to the DXpedition funding model used by DX Expeditions, Inc. The Team will put up 50% of the total costs and the DX community will be asked to fund the other 50%. In that regard, we are very pleased to announce that an anonymous “well-known DXer and DXpeditioner,” has offered to match any donations between now and the beginning of the operation.

This is obviously huge and very generous!

Why should you, your DX Club or DX Foundation help us?

This is the largest Sable Island DXpedition Team ever.
The Team has very experienced DXpeditioners including two DX Hall of Fame members.
Right time of Sunspot Cycle.
First ever FT8 operation from Sable Island.
Very good LB antennas
Indications are that it may be “a while” before a Ham Radio permit will be issued again.

Because of the “matching offer”, this is an excellent opportunity to help us fund the CYØS DXpedition.

Those individual DXers, DX Clubs and DX Foundations that have already agreed to support us may decide on additional support. And of course, those in the DX community who have waited for our plans to be finalized, or who have not been asked for support, this is a way to double your contribution.

To help support us, you may contact Bill, K5DHY or go to: https://t-rexsoftware.com/cy0s/donate

The team would like recognize three important Sponsors: the Anonymous Matching Donor, Vibroplex/ & Spiderbeam companies — and especially DX Engineering who has been very generous!

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The CY0S team has been working on the plans for their flights to Sable Island on the morning of 20 March. Five team members will fly on a plane, and the others on a helicopter. They now have an absolute payload capacity limit of 2930 lbs (about 1330 kg), including the weight of the operators; they are over that weight limitation, and are identifying areas where they can reduce weight.
The DXpedition is currently scheduled to conclude on 29 March; due to the operational requirements of the Sable Station, however, the team might need to depart the island one day earlier (28 March) or one day later (30 March).
The team has now reached the 60% level of their fundraising goal of USD 37,500. The total cost of the DXpedition is estimated at USD 75,000. Donations are very much appreciated and can be made from the DXpedition's website (http://www.cy0s.com).

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Lee, WW2DX will be in charge of the 2m EME operation from Sable Island, which has been approved by Parks Canada. The team is now at 65% of their fundraising goal of USD 37,500. Donations can be made from the DXpedition's website (http://www.cy0s.com). Any donations will automatically be matched by a generous well known DXer, who wishes to remain anonymous.

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Parks Canada has agreed to add one day to the length of stay on Sable Island for the CY0S DXpedition team. The start date is still 20 March, and the end date is now 30 March. Depending on weather conditions, however, their stay might be shortened, or even extended beyond the departure date. Plans are for an experienced team of nine operators (K4UEE, K4ZLE, K5YY, N2IEN, N2TU, W0GJ, W4DKS, WA4DAN and WW2DX) to be active on 160-10 metres CW, SSB and FT8 F/H; plans are also for activity to take place on 6 metres FT8 as well as on 2 metres EME and via satellite. QSL via Club Log's OQRS (preferred for either direct and bureau cards), direct to WA4DAN, and LoTW. See https://t-rexsoftware.com/cy0s/ for more information and updates.

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Because of some scheduling issues, three operators (K4UEE, K5YY and N2IEN) have dropped out of the team, which now includes Jay K4ZLE, Lou N2TU, Glenn W0GJ, Dan W4DKS, Murray WA4DAN, Lee WW2DX and two new members, namely Craig K9CT and John W2GD. The DXpedition to Sable Island is expected to take place on 20-30 March. CY0S is also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/955351178705747/.