Update June 23, 2025: Some of you will have heard the bad news, I made a stupid error in my haste to change bands to 60m at sunset last night and 'blew up' the LDMOS device in the 6m PA.  The LDMOS device 'did not like' the 6m band coax transmission line transformers in its drain output circuit  ...  essentially a short circuit at 5 MHz.

As a result there will be no 6m EME operation from YJ on this trip   ...   

Thanks to those who have offered assistance and commiserations ... and, from my side, sorry for the disappointment.

... but do not despair!  After considering several options, we have decided that the best course of action  ('Plan C')  is to make another trip to YJ at the beginning of October.  More details about this trip after all the bookings are finalised, but the accommodation is already secured from Sept 30 through Oct 11.  This new trip will allow 6m EME operation from the MS window on Oct 01 until MS on Oct 09  (which is on Oct 10 local date in YJ).

Some of the benefits of this 'Plan C' include:

   I will not 'bust my boiler' going to ZL and back this week to get my spare amplifier  ('Plan  A')
   shipping another amplifier here  ('Plan B')  would be 'fraught with logistics and customs fish hooks', and more stress than I want to endure 
   (due to the unique circumstances at both the ZL and YJ ends, that is not anywhere near as easy as it would seem)
   the YJ0RS license is still valid until the end of 2025
   the accommodation owner (Janet) has graciously allowed the antenna bag to stay here, making transport easier
   the moon rises in early October are during the day and not subject to the 2 or 3dB of night time LED light QRN from Janet's house
   the antenna will be re-installed a few meters (yards) further north on the plot, allowing an extra day of solid ground gain at MR and MS

Again, sorry for the disappointment   ...   I've put this behind me and we are looking forward to  "YJ0RS Part 2"  in October   :-)

73, Bob  ZL1RS / YJ0RS

Update June 17, 2025: Re-booked our return flights to leave YJ one week earlier ... the DXpedition will close down on 22 June 2025.  Reconfigured  the HF antenna into a 10m Delta Loop.

Update June 11, 2025 @ 0500z: arrived on site after an exciting tide from Port Vila dodging pot holes in the road.  Got in just before sun set. Antenna work tomorrow ...

10 June, 2030 utc ... 5 aborted attempts to land at Port Vila, Vanuatu yesterday due to low cloud.  Three attempts and holding pattern between, then flew to Santo, northern part of Vanuatu.  Discharged some passengers there and picked up others.  Tried to return to Port Vila in the evening, made two more attempts to land before diverting to Brisbane, Australia overnight.  Making another attempt to reach Vanuatu today.

08 June, 0000 utc ... I've borrowed another radio to run two bands simultaneously.  This will allow the 6m station to run all the time.  The 2nd radio will primarily be on 10m FT8 but, subject to the low band QRN level at the site, it may be on 60m FT8  around sunset and sunrise.  Don't expect too much on 60m, this is an experiment.

Update February 9, 2025: flights and accommodation booked, licenses/call signs confirmed the same deal as the two trips to E51EME last year with 6m terrestrial focus and EME at MR/MS a 7 element Yagi, IC-705 and PA.

YJ0RS at RH43el from 10 June until 30 June
MR across land with a few scattered local houses in the distance
MS across the sea just a short distance to the beach

Bob, ZL1RS,is planning a DXpedition in June of this year from Efate Island. He will be active as YJ0RS, but his focus will be on the 6m band. He states, "It is also possible to work 10m if the 6m is
'dead'."

QSL via LoTW.

More information when available.