ZD9XF : Tristan da Cunha : on board SA Agulhas II
Also see :
Operating on Tristan
The 1,500 mile voyage from Cape Town to Tristan da Cunha on SA Agulhas II is scheduled to take five days.

The outbound voyage took six days because of oceanographic research work being done during the voyage which required the ship to stop on numerous occasions.

The return voyage from Tristan to Cape Town also took six days: because of bad weather at the start.
The 13,000 ton SA Agulhas II sails from Cape Town to Tristan da Cunha, Gough, Marion and the South African Antarctic base. Passengers from the SA Agulhas II are flown ashore by helicopter.
The SA Agulhas II as seen from the helicopter while being transported ashore at Tristan da Cunha. Pat ZD9BZ and Paul ZS1S on board the SA Agulhas II. Pat ZD9BZ was active from Tristan during the 1980s.
Paul ZS1S photographs the sunrise from on board the SA Agulhas II as we arrive off shore Tristan da Cunha after six days at sea. Departure ceremony for new Gough Island weather-station crew (with the captain of the Agulhas II) on the Cape Town quayside.
The SA Agulhas II sets sail from Cape Town for its five week voyage to Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island. Photo : James ZS1AIE
Paul ZS1S with Dave ZS1BCE (ZD9A) who is travelling out to Gough Island as part of the new weather station crew. Dennis ZS1AU, Nigel G3TXF and Paul ZS1S prior to the
SA Agulhas II setting sail for Tristan da Cunha.
In the engine room of SA Agulhas II. The ship's engines are two 3,000V motors. Crow's nest on the SA Agulhas II. There are two small landing craft on board the SA Agulhas II.
Life-boat drill on board the SA Agulhas II. Several bird spotters and bird scientists were on board.
Pierre ZS1HF ZD9M (who was returning home having just spent seven months on Gough Island), Paul ZS1S and Nigel G3TXF. Two on-board helicopters (ZS-HHS and ZS-HRP) provide transport for people and luggage to both Tristan da Cunha and Gough.
Satellite dish radome on board the SA Agulhas II. A thin satellite downlink was shared by all on board. Slow....very slow Internet! Out on the helideck : Nigel G3TXF (ZD9XF), Julian ZS3JG (ZD9JG), Pierre ZS1HF (ZD9M) and Paul ZS1S (ZD9ZS).
The Baltic Trader (as used by Rob M0VFC for his ZD9UW Sep '12 operation) is one of the three vessels serving Tristan da Cunha. Paul ZS1S operating as ZS1S/mm with a barefoot K3 and a multi-band wire antenna from on board the SA Agulhas II.
Meal time on board the SA Agulhas II: Paul ZS1S, Gerd (German globe-trotter) and Stan (dental technician from Dundee). Tug boat in Cape Town harbour.
Paul ZS1S on the bridge deck where there were a range of HF and VHF antennas, including this base tuned HF vertical antenna. The ZD9 Tristan DX-pedition baggage: ZD9XF : four suitcases, one carry-on and one ski-bag, ZD9ZS : sixteen items of baggage.
Wire antenna as used for the few QSOs made by ZS/G3TXF/mm and ZS1S/mm. Paul ZS1S in the luggage storage area aboard the SA Agulhas II. Looking towards the bridge on board the SA Agulhas II.
Outbound ZD9s: Nigel ZD9XF, Ian ZD9IL, Paul ZD9ZS and Lorna ZD9YL. Also on outbound Dave ZD9A (ZS1BCE) and Pat ZD9BZ. Oceanographic research work was undertaken during the outbound voyage from Cape Town to Tristan da Cunha.
Paul ZS1S up on the bridge...... ....and down in the engine room on the SA Agulhas II.
Nigel G3TXF and Paul ZS1S on board. Diesel-electric motors drive the ship. The two diesel generators each produce 3MW. The Anti-Rolling System is very effective.
Unloading the luggage by crane and sling from onboard the SA Agulhas II on arrival back into Cape Town harbour. Arriving back into Cape Town harbour Paul ZS1S (ZD9ZS) and Pierre ZS1HF (ZD9M from Gough Island).
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