http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/map/RPXX0017?from=36hour_map

Their QRN on 40 and 30 is bad and preventing them from hearing most of the stateside signals on 30 and 40.

The winds are also preventing the launching of the helium filled weather balloon with the 80/160 antenna. They will try again tomorrow.

All 4 operating positions are built and the team has gone from survival in route, to survival while building, to survival while in QSO mode.

Everyone on the team has cuts from the coral. The closest access to any of the rocks is over coral and no one has been spared coral scrapes and cuts. Add to that over 100 degree heat and sunburn and you have a dangerous environment for all.

During the day each shift is 6 hours in heat and a dry wind under a small umbrella. If you are lucky enough you get to operate at night. You are left on a rock for 13 hours barely 4 feet above the water in pitch black sitting in a folding chair, no where to walk and stretch and getting a constant salt spray. You can't see the other rocks nor the ship and if something goes wrong there is no chance of rescue.
The steppIR verticals and one Yagi are up. Two stations will stay on 20 mtrs while the other two will search 15, 17, 30 and 40 for openings.

So as you sit there in your comfy shack complaining on the cluster and sending us emails about your lack of a QSO and the do's and don'ts, think what our team is going through to bring you "the chance of a QSO".

Here is just a sampling of our fan mail received today:

"fIVE YEARS PLAnning you did a ****ty job we cant hear you on the east coast you shoud have gotton info from n8s they did a great job at least you heard them you guys keep working ja's and w6's thats all your going to get the east coast i guess is off limmits you wount get any donation from me or any one else on the east coast you guys are the worst go to 11 meters you might have better lush"
GL and we wish you the best in the upcoming days.

N4XP and N1DG for the team on Scarborough Reef

The team has made entry into the lagoon area and are starting to build
the operating positions.

They are proceeding as quickly as possible under the conditions that
are present.

The weather is now perfect and for the time being should not hinder work
activities as the day moves on.

The team plans to provide an update to us sometime during the day as to
progress on station work. We will forward that information as soon as
it is received.

The team has arrived at the rocks on the North side just as the sun was
setting. At daybreak they will scout out the operating positions and
build the stations.
Stay tuned for further information.

The team now estimates its arrival to the reef area on Saturday evening their time. The seas are not as rough as they have been and they are proceeding with less difficulty.