In the early months of 2025, adept DXpeditioner 1DA005 Max travelled by light-aircraft to the pocket-sized island of São Vicente for a spell of serious Islands On The Air (IOTA) DX work. According to the World IOTA Program, stunning Sao Vicente is part of the Barlavento Islands group of Cape Verde (205 Division) and shares the same reference with several other islands.
Amidst sailing boats, spectacular seascapes, and sunsets, this was the Dx Adventure Radio Club’s first ever activity in this secluded part of the world, and one eagerly anticipated by the world’s community of serious Freeband Island Hunters when news of Max’s intentions were announced.
This is his report…
My AF-086 IOTA activity was organized for the island of São Vicente in January, 2025, and I was excited to bring this opportunity to life for friends in the 11m DX Community.
This beautiful parcel of land is part of the Cape Verde archipelago, one located nearby Senegal, the westernmost country in West Africa, and it’s an incredible place to DX from.
I’m so fortunate to have a permeant residence here, albeit on another of the DXCC’s islands.
For my 205DA/AF-086 activity, radio work was carried out from an incredibly decked out ham rental shack on the highest peak of the island, Monte Verde, some 744 m ASL.
This building is situated on the eastern part of the island, roughly 11 km from the capital city, Mindelo, and its 80,000 inhabitants, not to mention large numbers of feral goats that roam the countryside.
I’m told these are descendants of domestic goats brought to the islands by the Portuguese!
The radio equipment for this dx adventure consisted of an IC-7610 HF/50MHz 100W transciever by ICOM and a series of horizontally polarized antennas, resonant for the eleven meter band, that I’d wish to have at my home QTH in Italy!
These antennas provided exceptional access to major DX markets, via an incredible take-off across the sea.
The position of Sao Vicente is favourable for various radio activities—especially on the high bands—but the opportunities to work 27 MHz Hunters was terrific also.
In fact, during my stay here, the propagation on 27 MHz frequencies was wonderful with openings, even at night time.
In reflection, I was delighted to connect hundreds of stations from so many DXCC, including the Pacific region via long path (LP).
Due to constraints, my activity was limited to just a few hours per day so I tried to optimize predicted openings, based on forecasts from online resource VOACAP 11.
In 5 days, and with 15 hours of transmissions, I achieved more than 1700 QSOs in the log for 205DA/AF-086, which is a really pleasing result here.
Looking into the future, I’m excited to say there will be other opportunities to activate islands in this beautiful country!
Thanks to everyone who connected me.
See you soon.
Hello Max, thanks for the DX report.
In only 5 days 1700 QSOs is an awesome effort.
Congrats for your great job and I am happy to be in your log.
73 Frank de 35DA035