G0VHF/P :: RSGB
2 Metre Trophy 2006
Most curious conditions! Where we were (our normal site) conditions appeared totally flat.
Several unproductive periods, where we could have called for "hours" apparently, were punctuated with short-duration
'pile-ups' where we worked more than one-a-minute.
Overall. though, we were disappointed in our run rate and finishing numbers; despite 4 'DX' QSOs in excess of 1000km.
...more
2 Metre Trophy 2006 - continued
The weekend's 'WX' ranged from 8 octas at about 2000ft and a roaring Force 7 sou'westerly to bright summer sunshine
with scudding alto-cumulus - and a roaring Force 7 sou'westerly!
The evening of Friday brought some entertainment to the night-watchman through the antics of a Coastguard/RAF Rescue 'Sea King'
exercising 5 Metres above the clifftop - but over the beach, 50 Metres from the site of the masts.
In pitch darkness at about 21:00 (local).
The Saturday-night operators were not so amused by a repeat, 25-minute, performance at around the same time!
Although the flying skills of the crew - keeping a Sea King helicopter ~rock~ steady in the prevailing, windy, conditions -
were certainly admirable; the loss of half an hour's 'prime-time' was a considerable annoyance.
One particular highlight of Sunday morning was the arrival on duty of Mike, G0IBZ, almost fully recovered from his
life-threatening period of ill health that had kept him 'grounded' since just before the October contest last year.
At the end we were left scratching our heads over the outcome, when similarly-equipped stations fared much better.
So it goes!
CCG - 16 September 2006
