Peter (VK2ZPH, now VK3TZJ) was Maritime Mobile in the South Pacific, aboard the Island Mercy from 1 August to 22 August 1996 using his Fiji call 3D2PI. They travelled from Newcastle, NSW, Australia to Vanuatu and back, and sailed close past New Caledonia.
The Island Mercy is a 1000 tonne, 150ft hospital and mission ship operated by Mercy Ships, which is the marine wing of Youth With a Mission (YWAM).
Equipment included an ICOM base/mobile HF transceiver, tuner, and an "inverted V" antenna suspended from the rear mast and trailing back to the rear deck. Peter also used his Yaesu FT-23R 2m handheld (a good, simple, reliable little radio, IMHO) while near land, including the New South Wales (VK2) coast. Skeds were held on 80 and 40 and 15 metres and I managed to hear a few of these.
The most distant contact was with an operator in the Ural Mountains.
The trip was not a dedicated DX-pedition, as the main reason was as part of a group undertaking short term mission and aid work.
See also: Mercy Ships Homepage, or do an Alta Vista search on "Island Mercy".
Peter's QSL Manager is Simon Clowes.
QSL cards should be sent to:
3D2PI c/- VK4WLM
36 Lincoln Street
WILSTON QLD 4051
AUSTRALIA
or
VK3TZJ
PO Box 266
BENDIGO VIC 3550
AUSTRALIA
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