Welcome to The Yasme Foundation website!

Yasme is a storied word in amateur radio DX circles. DX stands for “distance” and the sailboats for which Yasme is named certainly covered their share of DX, crossing the oceans and dropping anchor at exotic islands some six decades ago. In turn, amateurs around the world, the “DX-ers,” would then try to contact the Yasme captain, Danny Weil, VP2VB, an amateur operator of renown.

Over the years, The Yasme Foundation has grown from a support group for those original Yasme adventures into a worldwide foundation supporting projects that help amateur radio flourish. We recognize the volunteers who keep amateur radio vital and vigorous in its second century and sponsor awards for hams (amateur radio operators) who make long-distance DX contacts on the air. This updated website tells our story and explains our mission. We hope you enjoy your visit and, even more, hope to meet you on the air!

73, Ward Silver, NØAX
President, The Yasme Foundation
26 September 2021

The Yasme Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation organized to support scientific and educational projects related to amateur radio, including DXing (long distance communication) and the introduction and promotion of amateur radio in developing countries. Yasme supports various projects relating to amateur radio, with an emphasis on developing amateur radio in emerging countries and encouraging youth participation in amateur radio.

Yasme Foundation – Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

A video presentation given on 21 Oct 2021 to the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club (N1NC) by Yasme Foundation President, Ward Silver NØAX was recorded and made available on YouTube. The program is 35 minutes long, following a 4-minute introduction by W1PJE and K1BG. Yasme wishes to thank the club for recording and editing the video for others to enjoy.

YOTA: Youngsters On The Air

YOTA Summer Camps are happening all over the world.  In 2023, Yasme helped sponsor a R1 Summer Camp in Budapest, Hungary and a R2 Summer Camp in Ottawa, Canada.  In 2024, the YOTA Region 2 Camp was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in July and the Region 1 Camp in Prague, Czechia in August.  The 2025 YOTA Region 2 Camp was held in Denver, Colorado in June, and the 2025 Region 1 Camp was held in Paris, France in August.  The 2026 YOTA Region 2 Camp will be held in Huntsville, Alabama in June. Yasme is pleased to support YOTA and als0 extends our thanks to Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) for supporting the YOTA Camps and other events.

YOTA R2 Summer Camp Attendees – Ottawa, Canada – July 2023

YOTA R1 Summer Camp Attendees – Hungary – August 2023

Thanks to the organizing committees of both camps for their hard work and many hours expended to make the camps a success! Here is some of ham radio’s future. Don’t forget YOTA Month (December) and the YOTA Contest (three periods each year).

PJ6Y – Young Operators On A DXpedition to Saba

PJ6Y was a youth-focused DXpedition to Saba Island in October 2025, organized by the Pacific Island DX Group in partnership with Youth on the Air, and supported by Yasme along with other foundations, clubs, and individuals worldwide. Over fourteen action-packed days, the team completed 56,635 QSOs across 160 – 6 meters, operating CW, SSB, and FTx. The on-island crew (see photo below) included nine first-time DXpeditioners alongside four experienced operators, while 26 operators from around the globe joined as off-island operators, many of whom are young hams.  A detailed writeup of the experience is available as the lead article in the Winter 2025-2026 issue of the Northern California DX Foundation newsletter. (Thanks, Gregg Marco W6IZT)

The on-island team (from left): Gregg, W6IZT; Connor, KD9LSV; Aaron, KC1SJR; Vincent, PC2Y; Marlee, KC1YBR; George, YO9LIG; Emilia, YO8YL; Ewan, N7EWN; Suzan, PD3SZN; Robin, W7YED; Jeff, NM1Y; Glenn, WØGJ; Matúš, OM8ATE; Dominik, DL1DJH, and Shelley, XYL of NM1Y.