An exciting IOTA prospect for any serious Dxpeditioner or Island Hunter, Bermuda is a British island territory in the North Atlantic Ocean known for its pink-sand beaches.

Possessing the reference NA-055 in accordance with the Islands On The Air (IOTA) Program, it consists of 138 islands that form a fishhook-shaped landmass, stretching some 22 miles in length and about a mile across.

Bermuda is the northernmost point of the Bermuda Triangle, a region of sea in which, according to legend, a number of aircraft and surface vessels have disappeared under supposedly unexplained or mysterious circumstances.

Here’s hoping the same doesn’t happen to any dx adventurer who dares take up the offer of a stay at the ham friendly Tarrafal Apartments, situated in Hamilton, the capital of the British Overseas Territory, the territory’s financial centre and a major port and tourist destination.

Tarrafal Apartments provides everything you would need to enjoy a period of serious holiday dx adventure.

There are multiple rooms available for dxpedition teams which are air conditioned.

Each has a bathroom with a tub, shower and towels.  Kitchens have a stove, fridge, microwave, toaster, pots and pans and the kitchen/dining area has china, glasses and flatware.

Each unit has a laundry facility with a washer and dryer, iron and ironing board.

Cable TV is $5 per day for 50+ channels and FM / AM radios are provided.

In addition to a basic operating station, the Radio Apartment (Apartment 7) offers an operating desk (a couple available), an operating chair (a couple available) and a customized “hutch” which carries accessories on shelves.

While the main antennas are installed on the roof and balcony from which it’s possible to view the ocean, there are several lawn areas suitable for the installation of antennas and guying.

Tarrafal Apartments is the perfect base for a tour of NA-055 islands.

Bridges and causeways connect the eight largest islands while the DXpedition team can easily arrange travel to others by boat.

DXPEDITION DOWNTIME

This beautiful island dxstination fuses British charm, African heritage and other influences old and new into a cultural mix that can’t be found anywhere else.

Historic sites meet modern cultural gems, museums display everything from shipwreck artifacts to contemporary fine art, and music and dance enliven the mood all around the island.

Visiting DXers will come across Gombey dancers at festivals, artisans crafting masterpieces in their studios and musicians jamming the night away at nightclubs and pubs.

From 40-ton humpback whales to colourful lizards and rare birds, Bermuda is teeming with wildlife and natural wonders big and small.

Atlantic Ocean waters, pink-sand beaches and rocky coves connect with bays, parks, preserves, marshes, forests, gardens, caves and grottos, providing homes for a huge variety of flora and fauna.

STATION

• Rigs:  Yaesu FT-920 (with IRC CW filter) – control through DB-9 connector (works well with N1MM+ Logger and Logger32) (to avoid disappointment, check availability first, the Bermuda climate takes a heavy toll on radios)
• Antennae:  Cushcraft original before MFJ by-out, 160m Dipole with sloping northern leg, 80m Dipole, 40m Dipole, WARC bands fan (parallel) dipole , Cushcraft A4S Triband (20/15/10 metre) Four Element, Yagi (on Strumech tower and HAM-M rotator [manual control box]), a 6 metre Yagi may be added if you wish
• Antenna Switching: B&W 595 antenna switch
• Power Supplies: MFJ-4245MV MFJ 12V/45A or JTPS45 Jetstream 12V/45A

SUMMARY

• Shack Name:  VP9GE Guest Apartments
• Continent: North America
• Ham Prefix: VP9
• 11m Division:
• IOTA Reference:  NA-055
• WX: Bermuda has a humid subtropical climate
• Longitude / Latitude: 32.350N /64.720W
• WAZ Zone:
• CQ Zone:
• Grid Square: FM72PI
• Owners:  Ed Kelly
• Address: 1 Tarrafal Drive, Hamilton CR 04, Bermuda
• Telephone:  441-293-2525
• Fax: 441-295-3559
• Website:  http://vp9ge.com/
• Cost:  A two night deposit is required and may be paid by personal cheque (check) or PayPal. The balance is to be paid on arrival in cash. Sorry, no credit card transactions.
• Getting There:  Free transportation from and to L. F. Wade International Airport (BDA)
• Licensing: In order to make your vacation to our island a special one, the Regulatory Authority offers a reciprocal operating license at no cost to the visiting ham.  It’s very easy to obtain.
• Email:  ed@vp9ge.com
• Links:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda , https://www.iota-world.org/islands-on-the-air/iota-groups-islands/group/520.html , https://www.gotobermuda.com/