[CQ-Contest] Commonwealth Contest: March 8-9, 2025

[Bart Ritchie (VE5CPU)]

Commonwealth Contest: March 8-9, 2025

Once known as the "BERU," the Commonwealth Contest involves Amateurs 
in the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations and their 
associated territories only.   This annual event is scheduled  for 
1000z Saturday, March 8 to 0959z Sunday March 9.

This 24-hour CW-only contest takes place on the five HF contest bands 
(80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres).

This contest has been around since 1931, and this year there are a 
few big changes:
    * The contest is now a partnership of the International Amateur 
Radio Union's (IARU) member societies for Canada (Radio Amateurs of 
Canada RAC)), Australia (Wireless Institute of Australia WIA), India 
(Ammateur Radio Society of India ARSI), New Zealand (New Zealand 
AAssociation of Radio Transmitters NZART) and the United Kingdom 
((Radio Society of Great Britain RSGB)
    * Entry categories have been adjusted to be more similar to other 
major contests
    * Intercontinental QSOs are now worth twice as many points
"HQ" stations have a special status in this contest, and for the 
first time, the station at RAC HQ will be active: VE3RHQ will be 
operated by Mike Kelly, VE3FFK.  Other RAC suffix call signs will be 
activated across the Canadian provinces and territories.

There will also be HQ stations from many parts of the Commonwealth, 
with several in each of the United Kingdom and Australia.

We invite all those in the Commonwealth to be part of the first 
Commonwealth Contest jointly managed by RAC, WIA, ARSI, NZART and the RSGB.

For more information on the CC, please go to 
<https://rac.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1cc2ce962688ad6bb6db0d414&id=35cf6b7e10&e=b4ff722c27>rac.ca/commonwealth 
or you can find the rules at 
<https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2025/rcwc.shtml>rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2025/rcwc.shtml