Update May 15, 2025:  QSL request for ZS8W is now open on ClubLog's OQRS

Update May 13, 2025:  The Daily DX is reporting: Just received word from Yuris, ZS8W,  is now QRT. He is now waiting for the flight to the ship. As of the moment ClubLog is only up-to-date with contacts through 1620z, May 12. 

Update May 12, 2025:  A couple of sources are reporting that Yuris, ZS8W (YL2GM), has extended his activity until Wednesday, May 14th, and will go QRT that morning (local time) that day. One source (The Daily DX) reports that all of the antennas (except the EFHW) have been taken down and packed. At this point he will only be on FT8. So you have one more day to work him.

Update May 10, 2025:  DX-World reports the following:

With nearly 25K QSOs in the log, Yuris, ZS8W (YL2GM), updates DX-WORLD that his time on Marion Island is coming to an end. On Monday – May 12th – he will begin station teardown (no firm time yet when QRT).

Currently, no more 80m or 160m is planned. However, Yuris will do more HF CW this weekend.

It would also appear the aforementioned QRX (or downtime) did not materialize so this weekend is your last chance to grab an ATNO. Good luck!

Regarding SSB, Yuris called for 15 minutes on 20m a few days ago with no callers except two lucky ones. It's unlikely any more SSB will take place.

Update May 8, 2025:   It would seem that the Yuris scheduled QRT period mentioned in the earlier update has not happened yet. Meanwhile, Yuris continues to be active on both CW and FT8. The ZS8W log has been uploaded on ClubLog 

Update May 6, 2025:   Yuris, YL2GM, reportedly made 117 QSOs on 160m with JA and EU. However, later in the evening his top band antenna broke which will be repaired later today and is expected to be on 160m CW during his evening local time tonight. After today, Yuris will once again be QRT for possibly up to 3 days before returning on the air.

The ZS8W log has been uploaded on ClubLog and the data is:

Updated 2117z, May 5th:
Total QSOs: 14412 and Unique Calls: 5708
First QSO: 2025-04-27 12:52:00
Last QSO: 2025-05-05 21:17:00
Number of days: 8.35

Band/Mode breakdown: 1306/CW and 13106/FT8
% by Band: .8/160m, 5.4/80m, 21.2/40m, 13.9/30m, 28.3/20m, 3.5/17m   19.6/15m, (Missing)/12m and 7.4/10m
Breakdown by Continent: 1.1/AF, 0.0/AN 37.9/AS, 36.7/EU, 19.4/NA, 2.8/OC and 2.1/SA

Update May 3, 2025:  "The Daily DX" and "DX-World.net" are reporting that Yuris, YL2GM, is expected to begin his ZS8W activities again starting at 0600z on Sunday, May 4th. They also mention that Yuris will be on 80 meters for the next two nights.

Update May 1, 2025:  DX-WORLD informs that Yuri for approximately 3 days maximum he will have to stop transmitting. This is mainly to do some antenna work on the island. After ~3 days he will resume activity.

Update May 1, 2025: Yuris continues his activity. So far he has been on 40/30/20/15/10 FT8 and 40/20m CW.

Update April 28, 2025: Yuris reports that it’s very windy today on Marion Island. Approx 1500 FT8 QSOs in the log so far, he says. Although the internet isn’t so stable, first logs have been uploaded to ClubLog

Update April 27, 2025: Yuris is on the island and QRV on 20m FT8, so far.

Update April 26, 2025: There are no flights to the island today. Fuel is being pumped to the island base. I am waiting for the flight.

73s Yuris, YL2GM/ZS8W

Update April 23, 2025: As of 13:00 UTC April 23 Yuris remains on the ship. Still no information about the start of disembarkation. So far only pirates are on the air and DX clusters, don't bother to work them. Information will be provided when Yuris makes it to the shore or when plans become known.

Update April 22, 2025:  S.A. Agulhas II has reached Marion island. But it is not clear yet, when disembarkation will start.

Update April 20, 2025: S.A. Agulhas II has passed the halfway point to Marion island. It is likely that Yuris will not reach the shore of Marion island sooner than April 23rd. As getting from the ship to the island will take time too.

Update April 18, 2025: The ship S.A. Agulhas II departed from the port of Cape Town in the afternoon of April 18, one day later than initially planned.

From Yuris, YL2GM, and LRAL Web page at https://lral.lv/zs8w/

After several repeated unsuccessful attempts since 2018 to obtain the necessary permits to visit Marion island and operate from there, Yuris/YL2GM finally has got it! He is currently onboard the ship mv S.A. Agulhas II scheduled to depart from Cape Town, South Africa, towards Marion island on April 17.

Yuris will operate from Marion island as ZS8W between April 21 and May 16, 2025.

Prince Edward & Marion Is. are listed as #11 in ClubLog's DXCC Most Wanted List as of April 2025.

Yuris will be on the Marion island as radio engineer and member of SANAP station communication equipment maintenance team and stay there for the above mentioned period of time, when this year's annual supply replenishment and exchange of overwintering personnel of the SANAP station is taking place.

NCDXF is the general supporter of this event.

By the way, you can follow the job vacancies on SANAP website and may be join the overwintering team next year.

QSL: ClubLog OQRS & LoTW