At Arctic Lavvo, we are proud to sponsor an extraordinary expedition to Bouvet Island, the world’s most isolated landmass.

Bouvet Island is located in the South Atlantic Ocean, approximately 2,000 kilometers south of South Africa and about 1,900 kilometers north of Antarctica. Though uninhabited, the island serves as a research station and a site for meteorological observations. Its extreme isolation and challenging terrain make it a prime target for daring expeditions.

 

Covering an area of roughly 58 square kilometers, Bouvet Island is predominantly a volcanic mountain surrounded by steep cliffs. With its harsh climate, including low temperatures and high winds, exploring the island has always been a challenge, leaving much of its mysteries untouched.

 

We are thrilled to contribute to the Bouvet Island expedition, known as 3Y0J. This DXpedition—a journey undertaken by amateur radio operators to remote locations—aims to establish communication with radio enthusiasts worldwide from one of the planet’s most challenging environments.

 

Preparing for Extreme Conditions

In the fall of 2021, Arctic Lavvo was contacted for a solution: suitable tents capable of enduring Bouvet Island’s extreme weather. The requirements included:

• Quick and simple setup.
• Lightweight and portable for transport.
• Resistant to strong winds and gusts.
• Waterproof against occasional rain.
• Compatibility with heating systems.
• Adequate ventilation.

The expedition team needed three large tents: one for sleeping, one for operations, and one as a common area. Having previously used our tents on Svalbard, the team identified the Venor Gamme as the ideal choice. While not ultralight, its durability and adaptability made it the perfect candidate for such an extreme environment.

After months of dialogue, we agreed to deliver three custom-built Venor Gammes, modified specifically for extreme weather. Two tents would be connected via a wind tunnel to serve as the operational and communal space, while the third would function as a separate sleeping area.

These tents were designed with special features, including:

• Extra-wide storm flaps.
• Reinforced guy-line attachment points.
• Internal mounting options for poles and equipment.
  Safety was the highest priority, and our ability to customize the design ensured that the tents met every requirement.

Above, you can see some sketches we created in collaboration with the expedition to discuss potential solutions. The wind on Bouvet Island typically comes from the same direction, and the specifications are planned accordingly. The configuration in example 4 is the one the expedition chose for the connected tents.

Testing and Production

In January 2022, we manufactured and delivered a prototype Venor Gamme with a wind tunnel. The tent underwent two months of rigorous winter testing to confirm its performance under expedition conditions. Once approved, we proceeded with producing the remaining tents and additional accessories needed for the journey.

 

Training for Success

In May 2022, the expedition team held a training camp to familiarize themselves with the equipment. They practiced setting up and taking down the tents, operating the radio equipment, and preparing for the logistical challenges they would face on Bouvet Island. After the training, all gear was packed into a container and shipped to the Falkland Islands, the starting point for the expedition.

The Journey Ahead

The team planned to gather in London in early January 2023 for final preparations, including sponsor meetings and logistics coordination. From there, the British Royal Air Force would transport them to the Falkland Islands.

On the Falklands, the team would complete final training sessions, repack their gear, and transfer everything onto a vessel for the voyage to Bouvet Island. The journey to the island was scheduled to begin in mid-January 2023, with an estimated arrival two weeks later. The expedition would then spend 22 days on Bouvet Island conducting their mission.

 

The Journey Ahead
The expedition gathered in London in early January 2023. There, they held meetings with sponsors and similar engagements before continuing on to the Falkland Islands. The British Royal Air Force (RAF) assisted with the flight to the Falklands. On the Falkland Islands, they completed some final courses and transferred all their equipment onto a ship before beginning the voyage to Bouvet Island. They estimated the journey to Bouvet Island would begin in mid-January 2023. About two weeks later, they arrived and began a 22-day stay on the island.

 

Bouvet Island

The weather forecast was not good when they arrived. It was foggy, rainy and difficult conditions with strong winds. They assessed the situation and if the conditions were ok, they could try to land. But it was not going to be easy. Some of the members of the 3Y0J team landed on Bouvetøya with a rubber dinghy under very difficult conditions. The conditions were so demanding that they had to swim ten meters to get to shore as the waves were too big for them to land with the rubber dinghy. Personnel used survival suits to keep warm and dry during the swim. The test landing of personnel was successful and the demanding landing of equipment could begin.

Transporting the equipment to the campsite was extremely demanding. The equipment had to be loaded onto a rubber dinghy for transport close to the island. The rubber dinghy could not go ashore, the equipment was pulled ashore by hand with a rope about a distance of 15 meters. Personnel had to swim to shore. After the equipment had arrived ashore, it then had to be hoisted and carried up a small mountain to reach the campsite on a plateau.

 

After a lot of logistics, everything is in place and radio communication can be established. The weather was so extreme that the expedition could only set up 1 of the 3 Gammes. The logistics of the campsite were so demanding that the amount of equipment was reduced to a minimum. Even though it was demanding, they got the campsite in place and radio communication was established.

 

After about 3 weeks of radio communication, the camp is packed up and transported to the main ship. A logistical operation that is demanding. Then the trip goes north-east towards Cape Town in South Africa. On February 25th they arrive in Cape Town and the expedition is over. We congratulate 3Y0J-DXpedition on a successful expedition, despite all the challenges and extreme weather. The tent stood firm even with winds up to 90 km/h!!

Read comments from the expedition participants:
DX expeditions to remote locations like Bouvet Island require serious shelter for both comfort and safety reasons. The 3Y0J team chose the custom-made Venor Gamme 12-14 tents from Arctic Lavvo, and we were not disappointed! Our tents are reinforced with custom-made doors and are very light (34 kg). While there is still room for improvement to make them the ultimate tents for the Arctic regions, they protected us well from the relentless winds on Bouvet, sometimes exceeding 50 knots (90 km/h), without any problems. This was our home on Bouvet.

 

Check out the videos from the expedition: