Update August 19 2026:  From Vasily, RA1ZZ: "We're having some minor team changes. Alexander, R9LM, won't be able to take part in the expedition due to certain circumstances. But luckily, Evgeny, UA6EX, has joined the team. Evgeny just returned from the "Legends of the Arctic" expedition to the Kara Sea islands, arrived home, and immediately started preparing with us for Franz Josef Land! Even I couldn't do that."

Update August 17, 2026:  The Arctic’s Legends 2026 baton passes to other members of our team. From 9 to 25 September 2026, the RI1FJZ DXpedition will be on the air from Aleksandra Land — the northernmost DXCC entity.

The vessel is the same one that carried us along the Northern Sea Route: the sailing yacht Apostol Andrey. Her skipper is Nikolai Litau (R3CN), a Merited Master of Sport, holder of several world records and of several circumnavigations aboard a yacht he designed himself for long Arctic voyages. Departure from Murmansk is planned for 3th of September; the passage to the island takes about five days and much will depend on ice and weather. At least two weeks of round-the-clock operation are planned on all HF bands, plus VHF and satellites — LEO, QO-100, EME 144/432 —
with /mm activity when possible.  

References: DXCC RI1F (Franz Josef Land), IOTA EU-019, RRA RR-05-04, RDA AR-32, WWFF RFF-0180, ITU 75, CQ 40, LOC LR30us.  

Team: Vasily RA1ZZ, Alexander R9LM, Vladimir R9LR, Dmitry RA9USU, Evgeny RW6MD and skipper Nikolai R3CN.

Franz Josef Land has never been activated on FT8, so the team will spend most of its time outside the usual digital segments — watch the frequencies listed on the site and please spot them.

FT8: 1839.0; 3570.0; 7056.0; 10133.0; 14095.0; 18097.0; 21095.0; 24925.0; 28095 kHz, F/H and normal mode.

You can follow the expedition in real time: live yacht tracking at: https://share.garmin.com/r9lr
Live broadcasts from aboard Apostol Andrey are also planned, and all news will be posted in our channel.

An expedition to Franz Josef Land is a very costly undertaking — vessel charter and provisioning, fuel, permits, radios and antennas. Any financial support is therefore most welcome; a support button is available on the expedition website. Those who support the expedition get priority LoTW upload and their QSL sent to their home address automatically.

It looks like a second operation will take place from the Franz Josef Land island group, but from Aleksandry Island (IOTA EU-019;RRA RR-05-04; RDA AR-32; RFFA RFF-160; WWFF RFF-0180. The callsign RI1FJZ will be used on the air between September 9-25th, 2026.

Operators mentioned are: Vasily/RA1ZZ, Vladimir/R9LR, Dmitri/RA9USU, Alex/R9LM, Nick/R3CN and Eugene/RW6MD.

Activity will be on 160/80/40/30/20/17/15/12/10m, as well as the VHF bands and the satellites. Modes will be CW, SSB and FT8 (Normal mode, Fox mode MSHV software; NO SUPERFOX). They will also be on the QO-100 satellite with an amateur radio transponder. Suggested HF frequencies are:
  CW  - 1835, 3535, 7035, 10135, 14035, 18085, 21035, 24905 and 28035
  SSB - 3675, 7175, 14175 (14275), 18155, 21275, 24975 and 28475
  FT8 - 1839, 3570, 7056, 10133, 14095, 18097, 21095, 24925 and 28095

Equipment:

    RADIO 1 — SUN SDR2DX + PA Expert 1,3 K-FA
    RADIO 2 — SUN SDR2DX + PA Expert 1,3 K-FA
    RADIO 3 — Elecraft K-3 + PA Home made 500W
    RADIO 4 — ICOM IC-7300 + PA 500W
    RADIO 5 — Yaesu 897
    RADIO 6 — IC-705 +PA 1KW 144 mHz
    RADIO 7 — IC-705 +PA 500W 432 mHz
    RADIO 8 — IC-9700 for all types of satellite operation
    RADIO 9 — DIY QO-100 setup (up to 20 watts)

Antennas:

    ANTENNA 1 — Vertical DL2KQ 160/80
    ANTENNA 2  — 4 el yagi 20m fixed to NA
    ANTENNA 3  — GP for 40m
    ANTENNA 4 — 3 el yagi 20m fixed to AS
    ANTENNA 5 — Spider beam 20/15/10
    ANTENNA 6 — Spider beam 30/17/12
    ANTENNA 7 — RX Beveredge
    ANTENNA 8 — DIGI side GP ¼ for all bands
    ANTENNA 9 — DIGI side Vertical DL2KQ 160/80
    ANTENNA 10 — ЕМЕ- 144 MHz  2*9 el
    ANTENNA 11 — 432 MHz 2*17el circular polarization
    ANTENNA 12 — SAT  5H9V
    ANTENNA 13 — POTY+homemade antenna, 1.2 m direct-focus antenna, collapsible from ANTEX and a backup kit

QSL via R9LR, direct, by the Bureau or ClubLog.

    Full DXpedition log will uploaded to ClubLog and LoTW
    Fast LoTW upload for donors and sponsors
    QSL is OK via buro or direct
    For Russia, QSL cards sent to a home address can be ordered via the

           "Legends of the Arctic" website.

    For QSL-request please use log search form ClubLog
    For Sponsors and Donors QSLs will be sent direct automatically!