[CQ-Contest] Why some Caribean Islands compete as South America at CQWW and other contests

[Herbert Schoenbohm]

In some contest this is patently unfair where a contact with some 
Caribbean Basin islands yield a higher point structure than others close 
by.  This is also why the big winners are always located in Aruba, 
Trinidad, and Curacao.  The islands only 100 miles away have a definite 
disadvantage. But this has and always be the case. There is the same 
issue in Europe where a station in Cyprus from a hotel with just a 
vertical can clean up.  I believe also that stations in Turkey in the 
European side are still counted as Asia.


Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ

On 11/5/2015 6:31 PM, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote:
> If memory serves, Zone 8 stations are considered part of North America, Zone
> 9 stations are considered part of South America.  And always have been. It's
> that simple.
>
> See
> http://www.icomamerica.com/en/amateur/amateurtools/2013_ITU_CQ_WorldMaps.pdf
> , and in particular, the insert part of the map on the Caribbean.
>
> Considering the proximity of the former Netherlands Antilles islands, and
> Trinidad & Tobago, to the coast of Colombia and Venezuela as compared to the
> bulk of the remaining Caribbean islands, it's no wonder.  If anything, I'd
> wonder why Grenada and other islands as far North of the zone line as
> Barbados, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and maybe even St. Lucia wouldn't be
> considered Zone 9 if the zones were ever reconfigured.
>
> No big mystery here.  It has everything to do with the map.
>
> 73, ron w3wn
>
> On 11/05/15, Fernando PY2LED<py2led at fuertesind.com.br> wrote:
>
> Hello Dear Contesters, good day!
>
> I was analyzing results from CQWW, CQWPX and in some categories we can see
> some nice records made by stations located in the Caribean Islands. Some of
> this islands counts like South America.
>
> It is extremelly difficult or impossible to beat their scores from South of
> Brazil, Argentina, Uruguai, Paraguai and other south countries due to the
> big distances to the main countries lime USA and some European countries.
> Also during the main contests, we have only one station (one multiplier) in
> some of this islands like Bonaire, Aruba etc and everybody will try the qso.
>
>
> I would like to understand if's there an explanation or criteria why they
> are located in South America for this contests. When we go to some Geography
> books, some autors gives reason why they don't include such islands at South
> America and they do like Caribean islands.
>
> Maybe this example applies to other parts of the world. Why not to create an
> Islands Category or Central America or so?
>
> Would like to share and listen opinions about this issue.
>
> Many thanks and best 73's
>
>
>> Fernando Cordoba | PY2LED | PX2B
>> Sao Caetano do Sul | SP | Brasil
>> GG66rj
>> py2led at fuertesind.com.br
>> www.altodaserradx.com.br
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