01 - Map
02 - Map of Britain from 1771 by French sailor Kerguelen
03 - Rockall, sketch in the book "A Vertebrate Fauna of the Outer Hebrides"
04 - First landing, 8 September 1811, small landing party from the frigate HMS Endymion, led by Royal Navy officer Basil Hall
05 - Aerial view, 1943 (©James Fisher, Wiki)
06 - 18 September 1955: Raising the Union Jack (*)
O7 - Security pod with the flag of the Royal Navy and with two marines in full ceremonial dress;the navigational beacon above them (*)
08 - Plaque, at installation of the navigational beacon: "Site of United Kingdom Light Beacon
09 - 13: Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western Front
June 1971" (*)
(*) - Unknown source, any information welcome to 
office@dokufunk.org
Area and History
Continent: Europe/North Atlantic Ocean - Coordinates: 57.35.48N 13.41.19W - Zones: WAZ 14, ITU 27 - IOTA: EU-189 (ex EU-164) - Allocations: MS, MM
Rockall (Irish: Rocal, Scottish Gaelic: Rocabarraigh) is an extremely small (Area 784.3 m2 = 8,442 sq ft, Length 31 m = 102 ft, Width 25.3 m = 83 ft, Hight 21,4m = 70ft) uninhabited, remote rocky islet in the North Atlantic Ocean. Historically the islet has been referred to in Irish folklore, and since the late sixteenth century it has been noted in written records … In the twentieth century the location of the islet became a major concern due to oil and fishing rights, spurring continued debate amongst several European nations. Fewer than twenty individuals have ever been confirmed to have landed on Rockall. - In 1956 the British scientist James Fisher referred to the island as "the most isolated small rock in the oceans of the world." The ownership of Rockall is disputed, as are the exploration and fishing rights on the surrounding Rockall Bank and Trough, and the Rockall Plateau. The islet is claimed by Denmark (for the Faroe Islands), Iceland, Ireland and the United Kingdom. All four governments have made submissions to the commission set up under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The United Kingdom, for administrative purposes, initially treated Rockall as part of Inverness-shire, under the terms of the Island of Rockall Act 1972. Subsequent UK Acts of Parliament have affirmed the islet's position as part of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar council area for local government functions.
Media - Interlude
Video: Landing and climbing on Rockall - Amateur footage of a landing on Rockall in June 2005. Kevin "Geo" O'Callaghan leads Larry Hynes up the disputed rock after launching an inflatable - 
ext. Link
Video/Audio: The Irish Folkband The Wolfe Tones published, in 1976, their song "Rock on Rockall", supporting the Irish claim of that rock - ext. Link
Newspaper clipping: "Hello, Mum, I'm on Rockall!"The Guardian, 1 January 2011: A British party hoisting the Union Jack, September 1955 - ext. Link
![Download [3.5 MB]](/img/page/file.gif){kind=small}
The most comprehensive paper ever written about Rockall, by Ondřej Daněk , with kind permission of the author [PDF , 3.5 MB]
The first attempt: RAFARS Project 1965/67
Hitherto unpublished documents!
It all began on 26 January 1965 with a letter written by Squadron Leader A. W. Hannaford, then Secretary of the RAFARS, to Flight Lieutnant John M. Hern, G3NAC, telling him that “at a meeting oft he RRAF-ARS Committee held on the 25th January 1965 you were unanimously voted as being the most suitable person in all respects to undertake ex officio duties as Officer in Charge of RAF-ARS D-Xpeditions for 1965.“ Three days later Hern accepted “with pleasure“. Just another two days later, on 2 February 1965, Hannaford asked him “…to look into the following possibilities for D-Xpeditions…: a. Investigate the possibility of an expedition to Rockall island as an individual RAF-ARS venture in 1965 . b. Report on the feasibility of a D-Xpedition to Rockall next year under the terms of DCI 14/64. c. Submit proposals for any other form of D-Xpedition under the terms of DCI 14/64.“ (Document DCI 14/64, unfortunately, is not available, but obviously refers to RAF activities to which RAFARS would only contribute.)
In an undated letter, of probably mid-February, Hern outlines his proposals in a memo, commenting that he does “…not consider that DCI(a)14/64 is able to help us in our expedition to Rockall“> unless “…it was combined with a survey and mapping exercise“. In his memo Hern proposes “…that Rockall ist the choice with Albania as the alternative. There are natural difficulties with Rockall and political difficulties with Albania. … Rockall cannot be activated by RAFARS alone because the only approach is by helicopter. This will necessitate the use of a sea going boat capable of housing the helicopter. …“ Hern requests that the President oft he Society writes “…to the Admiralty to ask for co-operation and help in putting a helicopter carrying boat… (and) …to the Air Attache in Albania asking for special permission … to go to the Border of Albania and operate there.“
The Rockall project was on ist way, although further plans were delayed for a full year. Read on for our summary – and/or to consult the complete documentation.
GM4SXU/P - 30 March 1994 - Rockall? Not really
An investigation by the IOTA Committee failed to secure evidence to support the claim that the operation took place from the rock and withdrawal of credit was a natural consequence.
The Greenpeace Waveland intermezzo - 10.-27. July 1997
(Picture © information needed!) A couple of ecological activists from Greenpeace (Al Baker, Meike Huelsman, Peter Morris, Eric Hejsalaar, and Thomas Neuman) occupied Rockall for 48 days. They took turns; mostly, there were three of them on the island. The action was arranged in the view of protesting against the oil research (and pertinent exploitation of the oil) in the surroundings of the island. They lived in a solar-pod, which protected them from the bad weather and declared a new public global state of Waveland. Anyone could apply, via internet for citizenship. Fort he next couple of months hundreds of „passports“ were issued. At the same time the activists declared: “By seizing Rockall we claim her seas for the planet and all its peoples. No one has the right to unleash this oil into our threatened climate.“
MS0IRC/P - 16 June 2005 - The first one
At last, Rockall, 188 miles west of St. Kilda in the Outer Hebrides was no longer the last un-numbered IOTA-island in Europe. On the morning of 16 June 2005, after spending 46 hours at sea a well-equipped and experienced team whose main aim was raising money for charity landed on Rockall. Two of the team were radio hams: MMØALM, David Wood from Stonehaven, and MMØCWJ, Seamus James Cameron, a well-known and experienced island activator, as resident on South Uist possibly the closest ham to Rockall 240 miles out in the Atlantic. Both are members of the Islands Radio Club Outer Hebrides. On arrival the sea was flat calm but the swell was running at about ten feet – quite normal in calm weather, yet this made the landing very tricky and it took the team three hours to get everyone, nine people in all, and the radio and safety equipment onto the rock. When the first radio activation from Rockall went on air David kicked off with a CQ call on 40m but very little was heard and only two stations were worked, so he moved to the 17m-band – again poor, only eight stations in the log. James took over and went to 20m where conditions were good. – The team were constantly downloading weather fax information which showed two low pressure fronts coming togetherin the locality, so due to team safety being top priority the activation had to be cut short from the planned couple of days due to the approaching storm. Thus just nine hours after landing the team had to leave. 3 ½ hours operating, 262 stations worked. Equipment was a Yaeso FT897, 100W; antennas H/B Vertical and dipole; power was from a small generator. The callsign MS0IRC/p is the Hebridean island radio club call. QSL was via G0HXN. The original IOTA number for Rockall, EU-189, was reaciviated due to unauthorised operation from the island.
(Based on words from Andri, GM3VLB, and ext. Link )
MM0RAI/P - May/June 2009 - A failed attempt
A group of Belgian amateurs had the big idea to activate EU-189 and to become the first group to stay more than 24 hours on the "Rock". The gtwo pioneers beghind the project were Patrick, ON4HIL, and Theo ON4ATW. During the IOTA contest on the last weekend of July 2008 when they were on EU-146 (Goeree island), the idea came to activate a "difficult" island next year Theo is an enthusiastic IOTA chaser, and when he said that "Rockall" was on top of the list, from that time on, the two had nothing else on their mind. Soon two other candidates came to the scene. ON4IA, Luc and Henk, ON4AHF. The first meeting was planned for the 27 August 2008. In that same week Marc, ON6CC joined the team. The first item was how to get to the "Rock" and how much would it cost. First of all they had to be sure they had a boat to bring them from Scotland to Rockall. This would be a two days sail. They had to buy diving suits and climbing gear to climb the 20 meters to the top of the 1,5 by 2,5 meter platform. The idea was to take 2 stations with them... This is how it all began, and almost succeeded. It must have been frustrating to decide, so closae to the rock, to abandon the mission due to extremely bad weather, and to return to Scotland. But they woved to return...
MM0RAI/P - 1/2 October 2011 - Success!
From the Expedition Log
Copyright © 2011 Rockall team
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:50 - The Cdt. Fourcault has reached Rockall at a distance of about 10 miles, and sailing very slowly. About 3 crew members suffer from severe seasickness (ON4HIL; ON5TN and Tom). About 3 crew members are probably mentally en physically strong enough to do an attempt to reach the rock. In the coming hours they are going to deliberate about the forthcoming situation. The storm of 12m high waves is going to pass in the next hours. Late in the evening weather will be better. Winds are now around 50 to 70 knots! They can't see the rock at the moment. They can only see as far as 100 yards.
Thursday, 29 September 14:43- Yesterday they had a huge storm with heavy seas. The team has decided to sail back to St Kilda, to stay there until a decision is made to return to Rockall. There are several people who were seriously seasick. These team members have to adjust back on land. The weather forecasts are favorable in the coming days.
Friday, 30 September 07:21 - We believe we have some good news to report ....
The rockall team is going to undertake a second attempt to reach and climb the rock!
They left St Kilda this afternoon, it will take about 14 hours to sail back to Rockall. They carefully studied all the swell and wind charts, and concluded that Saturday morning is favorable to go on the rock. The plan is to activate the rock for only 1 day because they lost a lot of time, in returning to St Kilda. The team had a nice break and had some recreation over there at St Kilda.
Saturday, 01 October 08:22 The Cdt. Fourcault has arrived. The ship is anchored about 250m from the rock. A landing is out of the question right now. The swell will become better in the coming hours. Patrick (ON4HIL) and Rudi (ON7YT) will do an exploration tour with the zodiac. If they can get on the rock, it will be a small operation. Only 2 bands will be activated. On 40m and 20m.
Saturday, 01 October 08:22 - The Cdt. Fourcault has arrived. The ship is anchored about 250m from the rock. A landing is out of the question right now. The swell will become better in the coming hours. Patrick (ON4HIL) and Rudi (ON7YT) will do an exploration tour with the zodiac. If they can get on the rock, it will be a small operation. Only 2 bands will be activated. On 40m and 20m.
Saturday, 01 October 11:48 - Patrick, ON4HIL is the first to land on Rockall - Rudi, ON7YT is now also on top of Rockall and they are now moving equipment from the cdt Fourcault to the rock - Equipment now on top. MM0RAI/P EU189 now active, opr. ON4HIL. Operation started on the 1st October at 1545 UTC - Patrick & Rudi are going to stay on the rock until tomorrow around noon, if weather permits.
Sunday, 02 October 2011 09:07 - Stopped transmitting on 2 October, at 06h52 UTC - They try to be off the island by noon - ON4HIL and ON7YT both safe on board of Cdt Fourcault - They are now sailing towards Dublin, were 5 crew members take the plane to Brussels airport - Only Rudi, ON7YT and Henk, ON4AHF will stay on the vessel till they return to the harbor of Antwerp
Wednesday, 05 October 17:04 - 4 October, a part of the Rockall team arrived in Brussels, where some enthusiastic people were waiting upon their arrival. It was a breath taking experience for all of them. Patrick (ON4HIL) mentioned the well prepared crew of cdt Fourcault, which was 80% of their success story!
(Quoted from the website, written by Marc Cosemans)
Video ON6ZU DVD-Promotion
Expedition report, Patrick, ON4HIL - quoted from DXCoffee [PDF , 38.33 KB]
MM0RAI/P - 02.10.2011 - 00:10 - 7.080 - SSB [MP3 , 986.5 KB]
Interview with Patrick Godderie, ON4HIL [MP3 , 7.1 MB]
MS0INT - 2012 - Planned, postponed, and abandoned
MM0NDX reports a lot has been happening on the planned 2012 Rockall Expedition, MS0INT, but it has now been postponed, due to the MM0RAI/P Belgian Rockall operation. The MS0INT operation has been put off at least a year. "An activation so soon after the Belgian effort now makes Rockall a less attractive target - that is the crux of our decision." But, the organizers say, "It is not lost on us that the majority of the world - still require EU-189 for their IOTA scores." Thus the postponement rather than a cancellation. Donations are being refunded with thanks to operators and groups who had pledged support. (Quoted from Daily DX, #191, 10.10.2011)
The project was finally abbandoned. Team website: ext. Link
