30th Anniversary of the 3D2CT/CU DX-pedition to Conway
I have the raw material from the DX-pedition. I thought it would be interesting to release a video of our great adventure. It will be in memory of SM6CAS Nils…
Sailing fast on Aeneas breaking records
Another great day heeling over on Aeneas. We broke her speed record that day at 11.7 knots. After having sailed her for a week we had learned all the tricks…
Pioneers of Circumnavigation and Sailing Inspiration
The first solo circumnavigator, American Joshua Slocum, completed his historic journey between 1895 and 1898 aboard Spray, a 36’9″ (11.2-meter) sloop. His voyage spanned an incredible 39,956 nautical miles (Nm)…
Danny Weil’s YASME: A Legacy of Adventure and Inspiration
Armed with only a rudimentary understanding of sailing and a fake callsign, G7DV, Danny Weil embarked on a journey that would change many lives in ways he could hardly have…
First Passage: Vigo to Port Hamble
It was the four of us—Peter, Edu, Ben, and me—setting off from Vigo Real Marina Náutico in Spain with our sights set on Port Hamble Marina near Southampton, UK. Peter…
Manami II: Our Journey Begins with Challenges
We bought Manami II in July 2024, fresh from her Atlantic crossing from west to east, and she was waiting for us in Vigo, Spain. By the end of the…
Caribbean Dandy RM 1180 sailing
It was a very lively boat with two smaller keels and one rudder. We sailed at good speeds reaching 13.5 knots though with the swells and winds we had we…
Scooping an Anchor and getting free
We are departing Naxos and all looks ok until we are out from the dock. The anchors have crossed and we are lifting someones anchor. Aeneas is a great boat…
I am sailing, to be free…
Another great day out sailing on Aeneas a 40 ft Solaris. Its a beautiful yacht and this is the sail on the first day of our charter. The yacht had…
From Rome to Papua New Guinea: A Wild Ride
When the call came, I wasn’t entirely surprised. Both the management in our Bangkok region and my Director were adamant I step in to run an emergency operation in Papua…
South Sudan: A Nation Born Amid Triumph and Tragedy
The day South Sudan officially became an independent nation, I was standing in Bor among a crowd of dignitaries, officials, and locals, witnessing history unfold. It was a profoundly emotional…
From Afghanistan to Iraq: The Rapid Evolution of FITTEST
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the world found itself on the edge of a new, uncertain era. The global political landscape shifted dramatically, and the shadows of war…
A New Chapter: From Building a House to Building Communication Networks
In 2001, I was busy building a house in Kampala. My plan was to settle there, even though my work kept me constantly on the move. I had found the…
The Birth of FITTEST and My Role in Global Telecommunications Support
In 1999, as the war in Kosovo raged on, the demand for our team’s technical expertise was growing. By this time, I had become the Deputy of the Technical Support…
Spectrum Analyzers, Rebels, and High-Stakes Radio Work
One of the perks—and challenges—of my role in humanitarian operations was being the sole custodian of the organization’s only spectrum analyzer, a $30,000 piece of sensitive equipment. It was vital…
A Flight to Remember: Navigating Chaos with Air Afrique
I had just wrapped up a week-long mission in Chad and was preparing for the twice-weekly Air Afrique flight from N’Djamena to Niamey, Niger. On the advice of our local…
Into the Deep End: The Start of My Humanitarian Journey
May 1st, 1997, marked the beginning of a new chapter for me. By May 17th, on my 30th birthday, Peter (ON6TT) sent me on my first real humanitarian mission: dismantling…
The Journey of SM7PKK: From Pileups to Humanitarian Missions
“So what happened to SM7PKK? He came, he saw, he conquered the pileups—and then vanished completely.” This is a question I’ve heard more than once over the years. The answer…
T33 Adventure: From an Unexpected Opportunity to a DX-pedition Success
With the equipment from the 3D2AM Conway Reef DX-pedition left behind in Fiji, a unique opportunity presented itself. Martti (OH2BH) and some of the YASME team were heading off to…
A Call from California: The YASME OH2BH invite
While on Rotuma, I received an unexpected call on 20m from Martti (OH2BH). Living in California at the time, Martti reached out over several skeds, gradually revealing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity:…