YF1AR/8 OC-157 Banda Islands

YF1AR/8

OC-157 Banda Islands, rare 13pct

YF1AR/8
OC-157 Banda Besar Island

December  8 - 10, 2015 4

129'53" E 4'32"S  PI45wk CQ28 ITU54

YF1AR/8
OC-272 Banda Api Island

December  10 - 10, 2015 

129'53" E 4'31"S  PI45wl CQ28 ITU54

The Banda Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Banda) are a volcanic group of ten small volcanic islands in the Banda Sea, about 140 km (87 mi) south of Seram Island and about 2,000 km (1,243 mi) east of Java, and are part of the Indonesian province of Maluku. The main town and administrative centre is Bandanaira, located on the island of the same name. They rise out of 4-to-6-kilometre (2.5 to 3.7 mi) deep ocean and have a total land area of approximately 180 square kilometres (69 sq mi). They have a population of about 15,000. Until the mid-19th century the Banda Islands were the world's only source of the spices nutmeg and mace, produced from the nutmeg tree. The islands are also popular destinations for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Since the first century AD, the Banda islands have been the sole producers of the fragrant nutmeg and mace for which Chinese, Indian, and Arab ships traveled across the seas. These precious spices could be sold at enormous profit in foreign markets. The people of Banda thrived on their natural resources, but in later years suffered at the hands of Dutch colonizers who wanted to dominate the world’s spice trade. Despite such a big reputation, the fabled Banda islands are only a tiny cluster of islands, composed of three large islands and seven smaller ones. The islands are perched on the rim of Indonesia's deepest underwater gorge, the Banda Sea, where waters can reach depths of over 6,500 meters.

 

 Banda Naira (Pulau Naira)

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower with a flared top, centered on a square concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Phillips Dewantoro's photo is at right, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on the quay at Banda Naira, the principal town of the islands. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty K1626; NGA 25812.

Pulau Suanggi

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 122 m (400 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 15 m (49 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. A distant view is available, but the island is only a blur in Google's satellite view. Note that there is another Pulau Suanggi light near Ambon (see below). Located atop a small island at the northwestern end of the Banda group. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty K1625; NGA 25808.

Pulau Bingkudu

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white flash every 5 s. 20 m (66 ft) white concrete tower. No photo available, and the island is not seen in Google's satellite view. Located on a tiny island, the northernmost of the Penyu (Turtle) group, in the Banda Sea about 350 km (220 mi) south of Ambon. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty K1598; NGA 25810

Pulau Manuk

Date unknown. Active; focal plane and light characteristic unknown. Approx. 35 m (115 ft) square skeletal tower. Chandra Morsono's photo is at right, but Bing has only a distantsatellite view of the island. Pulau Manuk is isolated island in the middle of the Banda Sea about 115 km (72 mi) south southeast of Banda Naira. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown.

View Larger Map

Equipment

YF1AR/8
Radio Yaesu FT 450D with tuner FC 707 power 100W

Antenna Vertical 43 feet 40 m band and HB9CV 20-15-10 m band
Mode mainly on Phone as well as on CW n Digital

QRV 10m - 40m band

QSL Info :

special qsl card design for dxpedition will be issued

YF1AR/8
OQRS via YF1AR Clublog

QSM via N2OO Bob Schenck

www.yf1ar.com

www.qrz.com/db/yf1ar

http://www.qsl.net/n2oo/history/qsl-n2oo.htm

Donation

Donation

please use yf1ar@yahoo.com for Paypal account

your donation is welcomed, the fund will be also used for the next DXpedition, TNX

Sponsor :

  

    

 

Personal Sponsor Banda Besar Island : YB2TJV, W2FB, SM3DMP, W5BOS, VE3VHB, JP1KOA, JR0DLU/1, N6JV, W5VFO, JA2AYP, AD5A, IZ2AMW, JA6TMU, VE3XN, K6PJ, JG4OOU, RA6AR, K9RHY

Personal Sponsor Banda Api Island : YB2TJV, W2FB, SM3DMP, W5BOS, JR0DLU/1, N6JV, KD1CT, PY7ZZ, JA5IU, DL4FDM

BANDA BESAR

Ticket

Masela - Saumlaki, Cargo Vessel LBI, Saumlaki - BandaNaira KM Pelni Kelimutu

 

SignBoard

posing in Health Centre at Walang

 

Equipment setup

Antenna vertical dual bander 43ft n 31ft, with tuner Icom 2ah

Radio Yaesu FT450D with homemade interface 

 

Special Thanks,

thank you very much for hospitality OM Jaman

Others,

panoramic on Banda Besar aka Lontar Jetty

BANDA API, QRV below 24H

crossing from Banda Naira to Banda Api

SignBoard

the one and only sign statue available on Nusantara Village since the Mount erupted 1988