[3830] WPX CW P49Y(AE6Y) SOAB Classic HP

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                    CQWW WPX Contest, CW - 2023

Call: P49Y
Operator(s): AE6Y
Station: P49Y

Class: SOAB HP
Class Overlay: Classic 
QTH: Aruba
Operating Time (hrs): 24

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:     
   80:     
   40:  747
   20:  778
   15: 1089
   10:  130
------------
Total: 2744  Prefixes = 936  Total Score = 9,734,400

Club: Northern California Contest Club

Comments:

This contest operation is dedicated to the memory of Ben DL6RAI, who sadly
passed away the week before the contest in a tower-climbing accident at his
house on Aruba, the station originally set up by Carl Cook, AI6V (who also set
up our P40L/P49Y station as P40V in the late 90s).  There was a very moving
ceremony here attended by many in the local ham community, some visiting
American hams, and including three representatives from the DTZ (Aruba's FCC). 
I am sure that this genuine outpouring of friendship and respect meant a lot to
his wife and daughter. RIP Ben.

I decided I would do another high power Classic category entry, as I had done
two years ago (last year in this contest I did a single band 15).  This category
forces lots of choices on the operator to try to maximize score, but has many
advantages, including the ability to take an hour off at any time if the contest
gets to be tedious or starts to drive you nuts.  Eating and sleeping are much
more normal, and you aren't turned into a zombie for a few days after it ends.
Actually, in retrospect this weekend the best 24-hour operating plan from here
would have been just to work the first 24 hours of the contest, as 40 was much
quieter Friday night than Saturday or at the end on Sunday.

My score is down somewhat from 2021, but that was mainly due to higher noise
levels on 40 Saturday evening and at the end of the contest on Sunday, and a
seeming lack of interest in 80; whenever I checked that band it seemed nearly
deserted, so I never actually operated there.  15 and 20 were in great shape.  I
particularly noted a strong JA opening on 20 in the 0800Z hour (i.e, 4 in the
morning local time!) Saturday morning, uncharacteristically right in the midst
of EU and NA openings, with more  JAs worked on 15 a few hours later.   Wow,
that was fun! A single band 15- or 20-meter entrant here could easily have spent
the full allowed 36 hours on one band this time, which was not even close to
true a few years ago. 

I was using my newish K4 along with our trusty (but getting weaker with age)
91B.  Our new JK antennas put up just immediately prior to the pandemic
lock-down played very well. The 6-element 10 and 5-element 15 are very
directional, so at times I was splitting power on the Stackmatch with the
Mid-Tri aiming to northwest to the US and the 10/15 aimed northeast to EU. And
many thanks to co-owner John, W6LD, for his work keeping up our beverages in the
thorny cunucu (thorny, cactus-filled public open space land) behind our house,
as they were very necessary and helpful on 40. 

Thanks as usual to JP (P43A) and Cris (P43C) for their efforts to maintain the
property, and for a lovely dinner with their kids on the deck at Marina Pirata
(where you can throw food to the fish in the ocean but have to be careful when
sliding your chair back from the table not to fall in).  Improvements made by
co-owner John Fore (W6LD, P40L) to the house including a new, modern a/c in the
shack and all new bedding and curtains are much appreciated.  The usual Aruba
social calendar also included John (W2GD, P40W), Martin (DL5RMH), Luisa
(DL2MLU), Lisandro (P43L) and XYL Lissette.


Rig: K4, Alpha 91B
Ant: JK 4 el 20/2 el 40 at 65 ft, JK Mid-Tri at 45 ft, JK 5 el 15/6 el 10 at 55
ft, beverages
Software: CQPWIN, ver. 14
A full write-up and rate sheet will be posted at www.arubaqth.com

73, and thanks for all the Qs,
Andy, AE6Y, P49Y


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