Rockall (57N36’21, 13W41’42) is the only unreferenced islands in Europe. There were several discussions about Rockall in the past. Several ham's want to activate this lonly rock in the Atlantic Ocean.

Also today a new discussion starts to activate Rockall or the neighboured Hasselwood Rock. In former time, there was the discussion to create a new DXCC Country, today ther is no chance for a new DXCC, but for a new IOTA.

Till today only a few landings by ship were successful. All other landings were made by helicopter. The first landing was made in 1811 by the British Basil Hall with the ship HMS "Endymion".

Till 1955 the rock was not claimed by any country, till it was annexed official by the British Admirality in London. In 1955 some persons went by helicopter to that rock and mounted a iron table on the rock, sowing to everybody belonging to Great Britain.

In 1972 a new light was build up on the top of the rock, after the older, build in 1959, was destroyed by heavy sea. The todays light operates with bateries, must be changed every years. Twice a year a team of specialists flight to the rock in order to show the light is operation.

The possibility of an operation from Rockall or the Hasselwood Rock in his vicinity is were poor. Only during a helecopter session an operation for some hours could be made. But only with out any linear, only with a small transeiver and a small mono-band antenna. The only place to operate is a small plateau named Hall Landing, located 1 meter under the top.

Rockall is a very historical place. The Irish monk Brendan reported first of the Rocoll Rock, a 20 meter high rock in the Atlantic Ocean in 540. But Brendan reported too that these rock seams to be know before, meanly by fishermen. Later on Rockall was shown of several maps of the Dutch and Spain. In 1607 Rockall was shown first on a map of the Admirality in London. The position was very unexact; it was shown 87 miles away from its today known position. On the 22 of August 1686 the first reported ship desaster took place, when a Spain merchant ship on his way to 'The new World' run on the rock - 250 people lost here live.

The neighbored Hassewood Rock was discovered in 1808 and in 1830 the Helen's Reef was found by the British vessel Helen.

Well - is it possible to activate sutch a lonely place ? The chances are very poor - indeed, but it seams to be possible. The best possibility is, to do thise during a helicopter action by the British Navy.

Let's hope that there are some hams with good connections to the British Navy to stay on the rock for some hours.

/1/ L.Margolis "Let's Clear the Air About Rockall", CQ, 5-1967
/2/ J.Fisher "Rockall", London, 1956
/3/ "The Light on Rockall", J.R.Soc.London, 12-1989
/4/ "A Expedition to Rockall", J.R.Soc.London, 4-1991