• [NEWS UPDATE / QRT] – by PY8WW.

Our expedition team, consisting of Renato PY8WW, Rico PZ5JW, and Klaus DL8TG, gathered at Rico PZ5JW’s house on March 31st. At 11 PM, we departed with two pickup trucks loaded with all necessary equipment, including antennas, tables, a generator, batteries, tents, food, and potable water.

We arrived at 4:30 AM at the Clarapolder port in western Suriname, near the Corantyne River estuary, where our boatman was already waiting. High tide was expected at 6 AM, so we set sail exactly at that time. After a 30-minute boat ride, we landed at our chosen operating site—a small sandy strip where we could clear a space and set up our station. Papegaaien Island is covered with dense, impenetrable vegetation, and much of it becomes flooded during high tide.

By 10 AM, all antennas were set up, but our first major challenge emerged: the boat could not dock due to the receding tide. The second trip was supposed to bring our generator, battery, and fuel drums, but we had to wait until 5 PM for the tide to rise again, allowing our boatman to deliver the equipment.

Operations commenced with PY8WW handling a massive pile-up on 21 MHz SSB, Rico operating on 18 MHz SSB, and Klaus running FT8 on 28 MHz. However, at 10 PM, a powerful storm hit us with strong winds and heavy waves. We had to scramble to protect our equipment and laptops while also securing our tents from being blown away. For safety reasons, we decided to pause operations. The night continued with relentless rain and strong winds.

By the morning of April 2nd, the rain had eased, and the sun appeared, allowing us to rebuild our station. The day proceeded with good weather and favorable openings toward Europe and North America. During the greyline period, we logged many stations from Asia and the South Pacific. However, our relief was short-lived. The weather suddenly deteriorated again, bringing strong winds, torrential rain, and high waves due to the coinciding high tide. Another dreadful night followed as we struggled against the harsh conditions.

On the morning of April 3rd, we woke up to heavy rain. Given the forecast predicting two more days of severe weather, our team convened and decided to end the expedition for our safety. We logged a total of 2,000 QSOs—a lower number than we had hoped for, considering that many IOTA chasers needed SA-092. However, we left knowing we had done our best. The expedition provided us with valuable experience for future operations. Unfortunately, the weather forecast had deceived us, initially predicting good conditions throughout our stay. The rapid and unexpected weather changes proved to be our greatest challenge. – source

Credit: PY8WW

  • [APRIL 2] –

I would like to update you on the expedition to IOTA SA-092. We arrived on the island in the morning, set up the antennas, and waited for a new window with the high tide. The island has a significant tidal range—at low tide, we have almost 700 meters of beach, while at high tide, just under 5 meters remain.

Everything was going smoothly until around 23:30 UTC, when we were caught off guard by a strong storm with intense winds. We had to rush to protect our equipment by wrapping it in plastic. Tomorrow (April 2) we will reassess operations.

  • [MARCH 31] –

On April 1st, the team will depart from Paramaribo at 00:30 local, heading towards the border with Guyana. Their goal is to reach IOTA SA-092 before dawn, taking advantage of the high tide to facilitate landing on the island. SA-092 is completely uninhabited, meaning the team will need to clear an area and set up a camp upon arrival. They will remain on the island full-time for four days, operating non-stop. More updates will be shared throughout the expedition.

  • [FEBRUARY 11] –

A team consisting of Renato (PY8WW), Rico (PZ5JW), and Dieter (DL8TG) will be activating IOTA SA-092, Papegaaien Island during the first week of April as PZ5IP. The island is located at the mouth of the Corantine River, on the border between Suriname and Guyana (8R). The team plans to operate from 10 to 40 meters using SSB, CW, and digital modes. QSL via PY8WW, OQRS.

 * Papegaaien Island is difficult to access and is heavily influenced by tidal conditions, making this a challenging activation.