[CQ-Contest] Natural born contesters

[John Laney]

Doesn't seem to fit with my experience.  I have done CQ WW CW single op 
many times since 1985 with no sleep during the contest.  Since the 
contest generally starts at 8 PM Caribbean time and I find it difficult 
to sleep in the daytime, particulary before a contest, I generally go 60 
plus hours without sleep.  Last did that in February of this year as 
PJ4A in ARRL DX CW at age 64.

Outside of contests, I go to sleep between 11 and 11:40 PM and get up at 
7 AM seven days a week.  I may sleep an hour or so later on Saturday or 
Sunday.  I am certainly not an "owl."

I don't think that my operating ability suffers much in the latter part 
of contests.  My accuracy rate seems almost constant.  I do have some 
more difficulty sending high speed CW with a paddle when I have been 
sleep deprived, but I think that is motor rather than brain function.

Maybe I would be much better at a 48-hour contest if I were an "owl," 
but I doubt it.

73,

John, K4BAI.