Lighthouses QSL Card

Introduction

Former TRINITY LIGHT VESSEL 55, now renamed the ‘John Sebastian’ in honour of Bristols famous explorers, is moored in Bathurst Basin in the centre of Bristol and has her own postal address, namely: ‘The John Sebastian, Bathurst Basin, Bristol BS1 4RL’. She is now the home to the Cabot Cruising Club who have produced an interesting history document covering her past service. However, there are some specific details that will be of interest to radio hams:

  • Lat/Long (WGS84 Geoid): 51.446579°,-2.595022°
  • IARU: IO81qk
  • IOTA: EU005 (UK Mainland)
  • WAB: ST57 – England
  • OSGR: ST587721
  • ILLW Reference: UK0176

Location

Operation

August; summer and the country has been languishing under a heat wave. Things were looking good, on the Thursday before the weekend Mark M0SKV had organised the equipment from the Club into his car for transport to the site on Saturday.

And then the plan had first contact with the enemy and everyone who has ever organised anything will know that no plan ever survives first contact with the enemy. Mark M0SKV had a work crisis that was going to require him to attend a customers premises on Saturday morning. This, in and of itself, wasn’t major since there were others who could set-up and operate until Mark turned up in the afternoon having attended to his customer. The problem was, of course, that he had all of the equipment and therefore any delay in getting Mark M0SKV to the site was going to translate into late set-up and late starting, not great!

Fortunately Mark M0SKV was able to get into Bristol on Friday afternoon and was able to transfer the equipment to Andy G7KNA at the latters place of work which is, ironically, only about 0.5 miles from the John Sebastian.

Back on plan, or at least back on plan B, there was only one other minor hiccup which is that Andy G7KNA forgot to bring the extension lead and had to turn back and return to his home QTH to retrieve it. This made him about 20 minutes late and Dave 2E0GZO was already on site having been given directions to the John Sebastian by Andy G7KNA via GB3ZB as Andy G7KNA drove into the Bristol.

As it transpired the Cruising Club had fitted external weather proof power sockets on the deck so ironically the extension lead proved unnecessary, although had Andy G7KNA not returned home and brought a lead it would, naturally, have been required and we’d have been scratching around trying to get a suitable lead!

Once on site, set-up proceeded without any major problems. The location is a very good one from an operating point of view, the recently refurbished lantern tower has now had a flag pole fitted to its top extending the height of the lantern tower. It is also very easy to pull up the doublets feedpoint since the flagpole is fitted with the obligatory lanyard so there is no messing around trying to put telescopic masts up and securing them in place.

The John Sebastian (Former Trinity Lightvessel 55)

The antenna is the, by now ubiquitous, 80m doublet, in this operation it is set up in an inverted vee configuration with the feed point hoisted to the top of the flag pole above the lantern giving some 40 feet or more above the roof of the ship and sufficiently high that the ends of the antenna could be secured to the bow and stern of the ship in a very traditional maritime setup.

Andy G7KNA operating with Ken SWL loggingMark M0SKV operating with Ken SWL logging

The antenna went up easily and was convinced to provide a respectable SWR on 80m and 40m to the FT991 thanks to an external tuner incorporating a balun and we were away.

Other Basin passtimesThe Cabot Cruising Club

We opened on 80m, but were surprised to find it quiet, there were a couple of regular nets taking place with the usual mix of strong and weak signals. We called CQ and were rewarded with a contact into Coventry but little else was heard or worked.

The John Sebastian (Former Trinity Lightvessel 55)

We moved up to 40m where there was more activity. 40m was giving longer inter-G and the usual European coverage and we picked up a number of lighthouses. On Sunday we stayed with 40m but also explored

Jason and Ken OperatingKen and Jason Operating

On Saturday we had Andy G7KNA, Ken SWL, Dave 2E0GZO, Jason and Mark M0SKV. On Sunday although Dave 2E0GZO couldn’t make it we still had a good turn out with much of the same team turning up. Ken, our SWL who is currently undergoing Foundation Training with the Club had the opportunity to get on air and made a number of the contacts on Sunday afternoon. Many thanks to all those stations who worked us when Ken was operating who were very patient and helped him to gain confidence on air and in QSO.

Our best DX for the weekend was probably the Canary Islands on Saturday afternoon for 2850km (1780 miles). We also worked Muckle Flugga Lighthouse which is the United Kingdom's most northerly lighthouse and was activated as a QRP station.

GB0CCC Log

Date (UTC) Time (UTC) Station Worked Band or Frequency Mode RST Operators Name QTH Notes
Sent Rec'd
18/08/18 10:35 G8ALS 80m SSB 59 59 Mike Coventry  
18/08/18 10:48 DC1PM 40m SSB 59 59 Matthieu Kalterherberg  
18/08/18 10:49 GB2SJ 40m SSB 59 59   Whitburn UK0026 – Souter Lighthouse
18/08/18 10:52 EI8CE 40m SSB 59 59 Aiden Waterford  
18/08/18 10:52 GI3UBA 40m SSB 59 59 Alex Bangor  
18/08/18 11:01 PI4WAL 40m SSB 57 59   Westkapelle NL0017 – Westkapelle High Lighthouse
18/08/18 11:23 GB4EUL 40m SSB 59 59 Rich Usk UK0159 – East Usk Lighthouse
18/08/18 11:32 GB8SL 40m SSB 59 59 Pete Shoreham-by-Sea UK0023 – Shoreham Lighthouse
18/08/18 11:54 GB0GPF 40m SSB 59 59 David Belfast Loch Grey Point Fort Amateur Radio Society
18/08/18 11:59 GB0HLH 40m SSB 59 59 Stan Hartlepool UK0188 – Hartlepool Lighthouse (The Heugh)
18/08/18 12:02 M0BZZ 40m SSB 59 59 Bob Birkenhead  
18/08/18 12:03 M0SQU/M 40m SSB 59 59 Mark    
18/08/18 12:06 M6ENS 40m SSB 59 59 Dave Lancashire  
18/08/18 12:09 GW6STK 40m SSB 59 59 Robert Colwyn Bay  
18/08/18 12:11 G2ABR 40m SSB 59 59 Chris Harwich  
18/08/18 12:12 G4GTX 40m SSB 58 59 Stuart Sunderland  
18/08/18 12:17 MI0JST 40m SSB 59 59 Victor Bushmills  
18/08/18 12:18 ON4CB 40m SSB 59 59 Kirt Putte  
18/08/18 12:20 M3GJA 40m SSB 59 59 Trevor Kings Lynn  
18/08/18 12:22 G8UHV 40m SSB 59 59 Glyn North England  
18/08/18 12:24 G0BFJ 40m SSB 59 59 Brian Huddersfield  
18/08/18 12:26 GB2TD 40m SSB 59 59 Alan Anglesey UK0047 – Penmon/Trwyn Du
18/08/18 12:27 2M0GVB 40m SSB 33 59   Buddon UK0207/UK0208 – Buddon Ness High and Low
18/08/18 12:32 MI0TGO 40m SSB 59 59 Brian Belfast  
18/08/18 12:39 G3YQD 40m SSB 59 59 Dave Manchester  
18/08/18 13:02 EI7HDB 40m SSB 59 59 Dale Co Carlow  
18/08/18 13:03 2I0YBH 40m SSB 59 59 James Dungannon  
18/08/18 13:05 M0XLT 40m SSB 59 59 Kevin Skipton  
18/08/18 13:19 GB0PLL 40m SSB 59 59 Alan Llaneilian UK0222 – Point Lynas Lighthouse
18/08/18 13:29 F4UPL 40m SSB 59 59 Dave    
18/08/18 13:30 EI3JB 40m SSB 59 59 Nicky Waterford  
18/08/18 13:32 G1PIE 40m SSB 59 59 Mark Preston Lancashire  
18/08/18 13:36 GM4MTI 40m SSB 59 59 Stuart Oban  
18/08/18 13:38 G0GWL 40m SSB 59 59 David Co Durham  
18/08/18 13:40 M0LJT 40m SSB 59 59 Eddie Bristol  
18/08/18 13:42 GI4TAJ 40m SSB 59 59 Joe Ballyclare  
18/08/18 13:44 G0AJJ 40m SSB 59 59 Lynda North Walsham  
18/08/18 13:46 G0TSH 40m SSB 59 59 Keith York  
18/08/18 13:48 M0OBU 40m SSB 59 59 John Stoke on Trent  
18/08/18 13:50 G7VKP 40m SSB 59 59 Adrian Chesterfield  
18/08/18 13:55 G4RAC 40m SSB 59 59 John Burton on Trent  
18/08/18 13:56 M3HJH 40m SSB 59 59 Harry    
18/08/18 13:58 F/G6CKB/P 40m SSB 59 59 David    
18/08/18 14:00 M6KCI 40m SSB 59 59 Dave Oldham  
18/08/18 14:04 M0ALD 40m SSB 59 59 John Leeds  
18/08/18 14:07 M5AJB 40m SSB 57 59   Halstead  
18/08/18 14:08 G0EWV 40m SSB 59 59 Trevor Bolton  
18/08/18 14:09 M0GGR 40m SSB 59 59 Andy West Yorkshire  
18/08/18 14:13 2E0ETS 40m SSB 57 59 John    
18/08/18 14:14 2E0PPF 40m SSB 59 58 Steve Chard  
18/08/18 14:15 M0UCB 40m SSB 59 59 George Morpeth  
18/08/18 14:18 G8GWK 40m SSB 59 59 Chris Luton  
18/08/18 14:20 G0JPS 40m SSB 59 59 Chris Bristol  
18/08/18 14:25 2E0MNG 40m SSB 59 57 Neal Derby  
18/08/18 14:27 DL5XU 40m SSB 59 59 Mat Eisenach  
18/08/18 14:28 M0YOB 40m SSB 55 55 Dave Liverpool  
18/08/18 14:30 F8DVD 40m SSB 57 57 Frank Macon East France  
18/08/18 14:32 DJ8VC 40m SSB 57 59 Alfons Emsdetten  
18/08/18 14:34 G1BBY 40m SSB 58 59 Walter Morpeth  
18/08/18 14:35 F9LM 40m SSB 59 59 Maurice Maurens  
18/08/18 14:37 IU1CYA 40m SSB 43 59 Giuseppe Torino  
18/08/18 14:39 EI9JU 40m SSB 59 59 Gerry Lifford  
18/08/18 14:45 ON6OO 40m SSB 59 59 Dirk Westmeerbeek  
18/08/18 14:46 F5CBU 40m SSB 59 59 Yves Plancoet  
18/08/18 14:48 MM6CXJ 40m SSB 57 59 Robin Skirza  
18/08/18 15:03 OJ0C 20m SSB 59 59   Market Reef Lighthouse  
18/08/18 15:06 EA8BUV 20m SSB 57 53 Harry Canary Islands  
18/08/18 15:10 IW5BNL 20m SSB 53 57 David    
19/08/18 22:47 G0GWY 80m SSB 59 59 Geoff Scunthorpe WAB Square SE90
19/08/18 23:51 M0WDE 80m SSB 59 59 Eddie Stegness  
19/08/18 23:58 G4ZTQ 80m CW 59 59 John Chichester  
19/08/18 10:08 G3OKA 80m SSB 59 59 John Merseyside  
19/08/18 10:14 2E0GYW 80m SSB 55 57 Thomas Bradford  
19/08/18 10:15 M6ENS 80m SSB 55 55 Dave Lancashire  
19/08/18 10:17 M6IZF 80m SSB 57 57 Charlie Glouscester  
19/08/18 10:20 2E0RIP 80m SSB 59 59 Bob Plymouth  
19/08/18 10:26 GW0FGO 80m SSB 55 59 Bill Cwmbran  
19/08/18 10:30 GW4GNY 80m SSB 59 59 Martin Welshpool  
19/08/18 10:42 G0FOG 80m SSB 58 57 Colin Nottingham QSO Heard by DH5FA
19/08/18 10:48 G3RKF 80m SSB 57 58 Terry Manchester  
19/08/18 10:53 G0BFJ 80m SSB 59 58 Brian Huddersfield  
19/08/18 10:55 M0ZAE 80m SSB 58 56 Henry Bedford  
19/08/18 10:57 G7KWH 80m SSB 59 58 Paul Nottingham  
19/08/18 11:01 G4LOE 80m SSB 57 58 Garry Solihull  
19/08/18 11:07 G3LUA 80m SSB 58 59 Alan Solihull  
19/08/18 11:13 M0LJT 80m SSB 59 59 Eddie Bristol  
19/08/18 11:17 G0ALI 80m SSB 59 57 Alison Kingswinford  
19/08/18 11:50 GB1OL 40m SSB 59 59 Glenn North Ronaldsay UK0082/UK0083 – North Ronaldsay Old and New
19/08/18 12:30 GB2LBN 40m SSB 59 59 Gary Dunbar UK0034 – Barns Ness Lighthouse
19/08/18 12:40 DF1LEO 40m SSB 43 55 Henrik Ratzeburg  
19/08/18 12:41 M6GBO 40m SSB   59 Bruce Plymouth  
19/08/18 12:47 PE1OAD 40m SSB 59 59 Michael Breezand  
19/08/18 12:49 EI5AL 40m SSB     Paul Cork  
19/08/18 12:51 MM3PDM/M 40m SSB 59   Peter Peterhead  
19/08/18 12:57 MI0RUR 40m SSB 57 56 David Belfast  
19/08/18 13:08 EI2WRC 40m SSB 59 59 Roger Churchtown Co Wexford IE0003 – Hook Head Lighthouse
19/08/18 13:09 GB0NFL 40m SSB 59 59 Ian North Foreland Lighthouse UK0128 – North Foreland Lighthouse
19/08/18 13:12 M6EJO/P 40m SSB 53 59      
19/08/18 13:17 EI4KM 40m SSB 55   Steve Co Wexford  
19/08/18 13:22 G0WAB 40m SSB 59 59 Terry Wirral Peninsula  
19/08/18 13:23 M0SHK 40m SSB 57 59 Ken Sherringham  
19/08/18 13:27 DB3LBG 40m SSB     Bjorn Frankenfeld  
19/08/18 13:28 2E0KHI 40m SSB 59 59 Keith Liverpool  
19/08/18 13:29 GB6SL 40m SSB 59 59 Mike Kingston upon Hull  
19/08/18 13:31 G4ZRP 40m SSB 57 57 Brian Wirral Penninsula WAB SJ28
19/08/18 13:33 M0ZAW 40m SSB 59 59 Neil Cornwall  
19/08/18 13:37 M0VCB 40m SSB 59 59 Conrad Scarborough  
19/08/18 13:41 M0WPJ 40m SSB 59 58 Peter Canterbury  
19/08/18 13:42 M0PER 40m SSB 59 59 Alan Chester  
19/08/18 13:46 2E0DYM 40m SSB 59 59 Peter North Devon  
19/08/18 13:50 2E0GBK 40m SSB 55 57 Keith Leatherhead WAB TQ15
19/08/18 13:52 GM0KET 40m SSB 57 59 Ray Aberdeenshire  
19/08/18 13:58 GI4SAM 40m SSB 45 55 Sam Belfast  
19/08/18 14:02 M0KED 40m SSB 59 59 Andy Lincoln  
19/08/18 14:09 GW4RLP 40m SSB 59 59 Terry Carnarfon  
19/08/18 14:18 G8IQA 40m SSB 59 59 Fred Sheffield  
19/08/18 14:20 M1DHA/P 40m SSB 59 59 Alan Lancashire  
19/08/18 14:23 F4LTS 40m SSB 57 59 Eric Quemeneven  
19/08/18 14:27 G4WIA 40m SSB 57 59+ Ivan Lizard  
19/08/18 14:30 M0BJX 40m SSB 57 59 Robert Middlesborough  
19/08/18 14:30 GB2MUC 40m SSB 55 55 Euan Shetland UK0219 – Muckle Flugga Lighthouse
19/08/18 14:34 M6WHH 40m SSB 59 59 Alan Brighton  
19/08/18 14:38 G1KPS 40m SSB 57 52 Brighton Canvey Island  
19/08/18 14:41 GB0NL 40m SSB 57 57 Aaron Newhaven UK0190 – Newhaven Lighthouse
19/08/18 14:44 G4NUJ 40m SSB 59 59 Ken Westward Ho!  
19/08/18 14:46 DK1TBL/P 40m SSB 53 59 Thomas Neunkirchen  
19/08/18 14:48 M0TRJ 40m SSB 57 55 Simon Great Yarmouth  
19/08/18 14:49 M0BUI 40m SSB 53 55 Les Bude  
19/08/18 14:51 M0GWD 40m SSB 59 59 Mick Portsmouth  
19/08/18 14:53 M0WTR 40m SSB 59 59 Tony Warrington  
19/08/18 14:55 G0EWV 40m SSB 55 59+20 Trevor Bolton  
19/08/18 14:56 DH1PAL 40m SSB 55 59 Werner Cologne  
19/08/18 14:58 ON3BMW 40m SSB 57 55 Arnauld La Louviere  
19/08/18 15:01 G3KAF 40m SSB 59 59 Jim Manchester