[UK-CONTEST] Bristol Contest Group IOTA 2009 - GJ6YB

[g4fka at aol.com]

After last years success it was an obvious choice for the Bristol Contest  
Group to return to Jersey (EU-013) for IOTA 2009. We sought out the cream  
of British and Irish contesters to add strength and depth to the squad;  
unfortunately they were all operating with other groups so it was the usual  
suspects including 9 from last year's team that formed this years "dirty  
dozen" and set off yet again on that 06:30 ferry from Weymouth to  St Helier.
 
As last year we took two trailer towers, one each for the run and mult  
station, plus the usual eclectic mix of antennas, poles and equipment and  the 
infamous "horse box for humans" (also known as "Event Control") full of  
every possible home comfort for the catering tent. Not quite the kitchen sink  
but we did have kettles, cooking gear, a mini-fridge and even a microwave  
oven! The ferry crossing was a tad bumpier than last year and the ships crew  
were kept busy dishing out white bags to the intestinally indeterminate but 
 eventually we arrived in St Helier and began the convoy to our coastal  
site.
 
We used essentially the same site as last year but with the mult  station 
now located on higher ground. We also had a number of Jersey cattle  for 
company but our antics didn't seem to have any impact on those docile beasts  
who just kept on munching. We made a number of improvements to the mult 
station  antennas, particularly a larger HF beam which proved valuable chasing  
down those illusive multipliers. We also re-arranged the run station antennas 
to  take better advantage of the land slopes. Otherwise it was essentially 
the same  set-up as last year. Our path to being ready for the off was not 
quite as  smooth as last year. One arm of the new mult station 40m rotatable 
dipole  snapped before the contest and the tower had to be lowered to make 
the fix.  Also the venerable Emotator on the mult tower finally gave up  the 
ghost and we had to do a swap with another rotator, involving some  intricate 
drilling of the tower head unit. There were the usual selection of  other 
challenges most of which involved either cyberspace, overheated  clutches, or 
just not being ready with a cup of tea at the required time.  However we 
soldiered on as only true madmen do and were on the air  from both stations at 
the appointed hour.
 
Although we had some rain and wind, the weather wasn't anything like as bad 
 as the earlier forecasts had suggested and we had some sunny days. Not 
quite as  hot as last year though - wind-tan rather than sun-tan although some 
of our  number seemed to enjoy both. A number of the team tried to employ 
well known  high SFP beauty products but a hat is far more effective in those 
coastal  zones. 
 
Contest over and it was time to take it all down and pack the trailer and  
towers. This was done by early afternoon on Monday leaving us a day and a 
half  to variously take in the sights, walk half the island, visit the tourist 
 attractions, sit with a cold drink by the beach or just sleep and dream of 
 mults! The ferry back yesterday was a much smoother affair and food and  
drink was consumed with confidence!
 
Claimed scores will be published in due course. Suffice to say at this  
stage that QSOs, mults and raw score are all up on last year.
 
As ever thanks to the States of Jersey environment staff and the local  
landowners, farmers and residents for again making us welcome and giving us  
free reign on a large area of land. Thanks also to the Jersey cattle for 
putting  up with us day and night!


Geoff G4FKA