ZS8W – Marion Island DXpedition (April-May 2025)

A Rare DXCC Activation After Years of Persistence

After seven years of persistent efforts since 2018, Yuris (YL2GM) has finally secured permission to activate Marion Island (ZS8W)—one of the world's most remote and sought-after DXCC entities. The expedition is now underway, with Yuris aboard the mv S.A. Agulhas II, departing Cape Town on April 17 for operations running April 21 to May 16, 2025.

Why This DXpedition is Significant

✔ #11 on Club Log’s Most Wanted DXCC List (Prince Edward & Marion Islands)
✔ First activation in years—a rare chance for ATNO (All-Time New One) hunters
✔ Supported by NCDXF (Northern California DX Foundation)
✔ Official SANAP mission—Yuris will serve as a radio engineer for the South African National Antarctic Programme

Operating Details

Primary Role: Maintenance of SANAP station communications
Operating Window: Limited to the annual supply ship visit (April 21–May 16)
Website & Logs: ZS8W Website | Club Log

What the DX Community is Saying

The announcement has sparked excitement, with operators hoping for multi-mode operations:

DL2OE (Mike): "I hope you have time for RTTY and CW!"
G3LDI (Roger): "Please don’t make it another FT8-only operation!"
IK4AUY (Sergio): "Very much needed in CW mode!"
N0SL (Ron): "I need this for an ATNO—thanks for activating!"

How to Follow & Support

📻 Monitor the bands—especially CW and RTTY per operator requests
🌐 Track progress: ZS8W Website | Club Log
💼 Interested in future expeditions? Check SANAP job vacancies

Final Thoughts

This is a once-in-years opportunity to log ZS8W, with a limited operating window due to its extreme remoteness. Whether you need it for DXCC, IOTA, or ATNO, be ready to chase this rare activation!

73 & Good DX!

Source: DX-World.net | Follow live updates on Twitter

Blog Summary

This post covers the ZS8W Marion Island DXpedition (April 21–May 16, 2025), led by YL2GM after years of permit challenges. As #11 on Club Log’s Most Wanted List, this rare activation is supported by NCDXF and coincides with a SANAP resupply mission. Operators worldwide are eagerly awaiting CW/RTTY contacts.