Originally published in the January 1996 C&E.
LONDON — The DX world was agog around Christmastime as 0. R. Zedd, A5A, the greatest DXer of all time, sailed from the port of Portsmouth to begin his most wonderful DXpedition.
Zedd sailed on the U.S.S. Yagi, a nuclear-powered submarine, escorted by two destroyers, a Greenpeace sailboat, and Jacques Cousteau’s Calypso.
Details of. the operation were shrouded in secrecy. However, the Oklahoma Collector & Emitter, at enormous expense, sent a special correspondent to Great Britain for coverage, and the reporter managed to learn some details of the Zedd plans, as well as a coveted spot on the Yagi, along with Zedd’s momma, Constance Wilhemina Zedd, of Mena, Ark., and Tondelayo Schwartz, Zedd’s blonde, nubile, 20-year-old QSL secretary and constant companion.
Zedd first announced his plans to activate Atlantis moments before presstime for the last edition of C&E. The intrepid editor of the publication, Joe Harding, managed to revamp pages in order to get a bulletin into that edition for the benefit of the deserving. This cost a lot of money, too, and it was rumored back in the states, just before the undersigned reporter hopped on the Concorde, that C&E subscription rates would probably have to be hiked to about $63 per person to cover the expenses.
It was promised, however, that the rise in C&E costs passed on to member clubs and subscribers would be “temporary,” just like all tax increases. Meanwhile, back at the sub, Zedd was seen lugging hf, vhf and uhf gear on board. A great deal of scuba gear was also hauled on and stowed, and a Coors truck was in evidence dockside. The Calypso, anchored nearby, had its little deep-sea submersible lashed ondeck, and Tondelayo was seen carrying not one, but two, bikinis onto the submarine, to the great interest of crew members.
Interviewed on the gangplank of the Yagi, Zedd told the C&E correspondent, “Don’t bother me now, boy. Can’t you see I’m busy?”
This comment was carried worldwide by Reuters and the Associated Press.
A few facts of the DXpedition were, however, dug up by dint of extreme effort and brilliant journalism. Those facts include the following:
Cousteau’s Calypso, cruising in waters of the south Atlantic, discovered the sunken continent of Atlantis in October. Naturally Zedd, at his home station in Oklahoma, just a hoot and a holler south of the town of Norman, was among the first to hear about the discovery inasmuch as he and Cousteau have a nightly QSO on 75 meters.
After hearing Cousteau tell how discovery of the fabled sunken continent would dispel rumors dating back to the time of Socrates, change world history, revolutionize the theory of plate tectonics and profoundly alter humanity’s perception of itself forever, Zedd told Cousteau that a DXpedition had to be mounted as soon as possible to let Honor Rollers add another pelt to their belts.
When told that all the governments of the world were clamoring to send scientific crews to the scene, Zedd told Cousteau:
“Screw all that. This is new DX, Jacques! It will be bigger than Albania or China!”
Cousteau was convinced at once by the keen insight of Zedd’s argument, and secret planning began for the current DXpedition.
It is said that the voyage to Atlantis will take approximately one week, and surface preparations will require another day or two. This means that A5A/ATL will be QRZ on all bands, all modes, all frequencies, on or about January 12.
Zedd took with him 10 transceivers and homebrew linears, 3 computers, and several miles of copper wire and aluminum tubing for antennas.
Operators in addition to Zedd will be Momma Zedd, Tondelayo, Bill Blast, of the famed west coast Blast Off DX net, N5IAA (to keep the frequencies clear at all times), noted Ohio DXer Bill Buckeye, Sam “Roaring Kilowatt” Jones of Hereford, Texas, Bonnie Prince Charles, and W5NUT of Shawnee, Oklahoma. KU5B will be allowed to log.
A late arrival in his personal aircraft, after a stormy solo crossing, N5MS, was added to the crew as technical adviser. N5MS was seen hauling a portable repeater onto the Yagi.
All operators were undergoing intensive scuba training at presstime.
The little flotilla of ships sailed from Portsmouth, into a lowering fog on a cool day around Christmas.
Bands played dockside. Thousands waved ARRL flags and cheered the intrepid crew. At the same time, it was reported that amateur radio bands worldwide went silent.
Everyone, it was clear, was standing by QRZ for Q. R. Zedd — and Atlantis.