ILLW 2013

Introduction

Former TRINITY LIGHT VESSEL 55, the 'John Sebastian', 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'. However, there are some specific details that will be of interest to radio hams:

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

Location

Operation

This was to be our first foray into this particular special event, and although we are reasonably well versed in temporary operations from our activities at Saltford for Mills on the Air, Midsomer Norton for Railways on the Air and naturally VHF National Field Day each event holds its own particular challenges and problems that need to be overcome. For us therefore 2013 was to be something of a "proof of concept" undertaking with the hope that we would be able to add this to our calendar of regular events.

Our first problem to overcome was to locate a suitable venue. Naturally given the event this meant we had to find a local lighthouse or lightship. Surprisingly, given our coastal location and Bristols maritime heritage, the number of potential venues was thin on the ground and those that were within a suitable travel radius often were bereft of any kind of facilities such as: power, sanitation etc.

We were on the verge of dropping this as a possible event when Don G0NQJ (sk) chanced upon someone at the Cabot Cruising Club in Bathurst Basin in the centre of Bristol.

The Cabot Cruising Club own and maintain the Former Light Vessel 55 as their Clubhouse, although it is now called the 'John Sebastian' in honour of Bristols famous mariners.

Full details of its history and how the vessel came to be in the hands of the Cabot Cruising Club can be found on the Cabot Cruising Club website, but in summary Light Vessel 55 (aka the 'John Sebastian') entered service in 1885 and served for 68 years before being sold for scrap by Trinity House in 1953. She was stationed on Newarp Station, Swarte Bank Station, Owers Station and finally was stationed on the East and West Grounds Station in the Bristol Channel from 1939 to 1953 except for a period of overhaul and storage from 1942 – 1947.

She is believed to one of, if not, the oldest wooden hulled Lightship still afloat although there are a couple of other vessels challenging for this title.

This venue had a number of advantages but also its own share of disadvantages as follows:

Pros	Cons
Central Location Power Sanitary facilities both in the Club House and on the shore Lanyards to assist with hanging HF antennas Parking (all be it limited) High profile deck location with cover Wi-Fi and Mobile 'phone coverage	Low elevation City centre with possibility of significant QRM No free parking outside of Cruising Clubs Car Park Limited take off where basin is hemmed in with buildings

Overall however, we felt the location was viable provided that:

1. We could get agreement and approval from the Cabot Cruising Club to operate there over the ILLW weekend; and
2. The ILLW organisers were prepared to accept the former Light Vessel 55 as a valid location given its present use as a Club House

Fortunately we were lucky in both cases: The Cruising Club were more than willing to let us operate and went out of their way to accommodate us, and the ILLW organisers recognised the former Light Vessel allocating her the unique reference within their system of UK0176.

A Brief History of Light Vessel 55

• Trinity House Light Vessel No. 55;
• Built in 1885 Builder's Tonnage 274tons;
• Length 103ft Beam 24ft;
• Sold out of Trinty House Service 1953;
• On Newarp Stations October 14th – December 15th 1914;
• On Swarte Bank Station 1922 temporarily, during November of which she withstood terrible gales, and, in the Master’s own words "shipped a terrific green 'un, filled herself to the rail, flooded the engine room, carried away skylights, ladders and everything else on deck, and strained her back, so that when moved to Cross Sand Station off the Norfolk Coast soon after (where she was for a very long time) had to be pumped out night and morning";
• Moved to Owers Station (off Selsey Bill) on 15th March 1937 until 17th May 1939;
• Put on East and West Grounds Station in Bristol Channel on 14th July 1939 where she was until 18th January 1942;
• Then taken to Milford Haven for overhaul and lay in Holyhead Harbour as a spare until 18th March 1947;
• Put back on East and West Grounds until 1st September 1953 when she was sold out of the service to breakers;

Equipment

We took along the clubs equipment, this having proven its worth in Special Events such as Railways on the Air, namely:

• Yaesu FT 840 100W multi-mode HF Transceiver
• MFJ 934 Manual ATU
• Manson EP-925 25Amp PSU
• Club laptop running Ham Radio Deluxe for logging only
• Half Size G5RV Antenna
• Don G0NQJ brought an iPad which thanks to the Cabot Cruising Clubs Wi-Fi allowed us to use the ILLW on-line entrants list to confirm details of other Lighthouse/Lightship stations

Setup

The operating position towards the bow of the ship placed us more or less directly beneath the mid point of our half size G5RV which was attached at one end to the Cabot Cruising Clubs Lanyards fixed to the light and at the other end to a flagpole fixed to a drive on car mount in the car park.

On the Saturday we noticed that there was quite a lot of force causing the flagpole to bend so on the Sunday we tied it back to the trees on the far side of the car park.

Quite by chance the antenna was setup more or less east-west giving us best propagation to the north and south.

Operating

The event proved popular with the members and we were lucky enough to see a steady trickle of people who took turns at operating, logging, chatting and drinking tea.

We feel this event was a successful outing for the club and a very definite "Proof of Concept". Assuming that the Cabot Cruising Club will allow us back in 2014 we plan to get involved in the ILLW again perhaps this time using a Special Event Callsign such as GB0JSB (John Sebastian Bristol) or GB0CCC (Cabot Cruising Club).

Logbook

Date of Contact	Time	Station Worked	Band or Freq (MHz)	Mode	TX		RX		Operator’s Name	QTH	IARU Locator	Distance (km)	Notes
					RST	No.	RST	No.
17/08/2013	09:43	DK0RZ	40m	SSB	59		59						DE0024 – Pellworm
17/08/2013	09:49	DL4ABB	40m	SSB	59		59						DE0098 – Buesum
17/08/2013	10:06	GB0NHL	40m	SSB	59		59						UK0039 – Noss Head Lighthouse
17/08/2013	10:10	EI0LHL	40m	SSB	59		59						IE0009 – Loop Head Lighthouse
17/08/2013	10:15	GS0IYP	40m	SSB	59		59						UK0151 – Tarbatness Lighthouse
17/08/2013	10:18	GB2TLG	40m	SSB	59		59						UK0093 – Tynemouth North Pier
17/08/2013	10:28	GB2LBN	40m	SSB	59		59						UK0034 – Barnes Ness
17/08/2013	10:38	GB4FL	40m	SSB	59		57						UK0006 – Flamborough Head
17/08/2013	11:16	GB4WIL	40m	SSB	59		59						UK0160 – Walney Island Lighthouse
17/08/2013	11:43	DL0SY/P	20m	SSB			59						DE0102 – List Ost
17/08/2013	12:29	II1L	20m	SSB	57		57		Mario				IT0005 – La Lanterna
17/08/2013	13:09	ON4OS/LH	40m	SSB	59		57		Chris				BE0008 – Lange Nelle
17/08/2013	13:17	GB0THL	40m	SSB	59				Dave	Tiumpan Head			UK0171 – Tiumpan Head
17/08/2013	13:30	M0HEM	40m	SSB	57		59		John
17/08/2013	13:47	M0BGS	40m	SSB	59		59
17/08/2013	13:50	G0WKN	40m	SSB	59		59		Ken	Lutton South Linconshire
17/08/2013	13:59	M0XVF	40m	SSB	59		59		Jeremy	Durham N E England
17/08/2013	14:03	OO7EH	40m	SSB	55		56
17/08/2013	14:05	DL5MU	40m	SSB	59		57
17/08/2013	14:08	F4VPL	40m	SSB	59		57		Dave	South Brittany
17/08/2013	14:09	M3AOC	40m	SSB	58		59		Derek	Redcar
17/08/2013	14:13	DL8AAM	40m	SSB	53				Tom
17/08/2013	14:26	DL6ABN	40m	SSB	59		58		Mike
17/08/2013	14:27	OZ3FS	40m	SSB	55		56
17/08/2013	14:31	FG4IWO/P	40m	SSB	57		57
17/08/2013	14:34	PA0CAH	40m	SSB	59		58		Ad
17/08/2013	15:15	GM4GRC/P	40m	SSB	59		59		Bill	E. Coast of Scotland			UK0155 – Elie Ness
18/08/2013	09:51	GB4FCL	40m	SSB	59		59		Mick	Flamborough Chalk & Head Lights			UK0005 – Flamborough Chalk and Head Lights
18/08/2013	10:06	GB0REL	40m	SSB	59		59		John	Rathlin East High (Altacarry Head)			UK0055 – Rathlin East High (Alatacarry Head)
18/08/2013	10:15	GB0TBW	40m	SSB	59		59		John				UK0030 – Trinity Buoy Wharf
18/08/2013	10:22	GB2LK	40m	SSB	59		59		Ellis	Killantringan Scotland			UK0164 – Killantringan
18/08/2013	10:31	GW100RSGB	40m	SSB	59		59		Bob	North Wales
18/08/2013	10:47	GB2SBL	40m	SSB	57		59		Steve				British Legion Special Event. Home call G7IZZ
18/08/2013	10:52	GC4BRS	40m	SSB	59		59		Paul	Nash Point Lighthouse (Low)			UK0072 – Nash Point Low
18/08/2013	11:25	G4LGX	40m	SSB	59		57		John	Haringate North Yorkshire
18/08/2013	11:29	MN0VFW	40m	SSB	56		57						UK0114 – Haulbowline
18/08/2013	11:31	2E0DRU	40m	SSB
18/08/2013	11:33	G0CAM	40m	SSB	59		59		Cam	Cornwall
18/08/2013	11:35	M0DDXT/P	40m	SSB	59		59		Bill	Cumbria			UK0152 – Maryport
18/08/2013	11:37	2E0BNI	40m	SSB	59
18/08/2013	11:38	MM0DNX	40m	SSB	59		59		Dennis	Glasgow
18/08/2013	11:40	G3VCG	40m	SSB	59		59		Don	Chelmsford Essex
18/08/2013	11:42	G0FUO/P	40m	SSB	59		59		Darrel	S Yorkshire
18/08/2013	11:44	2E0NOC	40m	SSB	59		59		Colin	Ashford West London
18/08/2013	11:46	M0XDX	40m	SSB	59		57		Paul	Mablethorp
18/08/2013	11:47	M0WMO	40m	SSB	59		59		Doug
18/08/2013	11:49	G8XTJ	40m	SSB	57		58			High Wickham
18/08/2013	11:50	G7BGA	40m	SSB	58				Geoff	Shrewsbury
18/08/2013	11:52	GM4NNH	40m	SSB	59				Jim
18/08/2013	11:54	OO7TWA/M	40m	SSB	55		57		Gert
18/08/2013	11:56	G3MDM	40m	SSB	59		59		Steve	Windsor
18/08/2013	11:58	GN0LIX/P	40m	SSB	58		59		Andy	Co Antrim			UK0033 – Chaine Memorial Tower
18/08/2013	12:00	2E0FPC	40m	SSB	59		59		Paul	Stoke on Trent
18/08/2013	12:02	G0CIW	40m	SSB	53		58		Dennis	Epsom Downd
18/08/2013	12:05	TM0LHG	40m	SSB	51		58		Peter				FR0002 – Petit-Fort-Phillippe (Gravelines)
18/08/2013	12:06	G0HXT	40m	SSB	57		59		Andy	Godlming
18/08/2013	12:08	G0FDU	40m	SSB	58		58		Ray	Dartford Kent
18/08/2013	12:10	GB5PSL	40m	SSB	57		59		Phil	6m Nth Blackpool			UK018 – Polver Scar Lighthouse
18/08/2013	12:12	M6NOJ	40m	SSB	59		59		Clive	Cumbria
18/08/2013	12:13	G6LKB	40m	SSB	58		57		David	Ulverston
18/08/2013	12:15	F5PTI	40m	SSB	55		58		Domi	Cognac
18/08/2013	12:33	YU/IZ1VUC	20m	SSB	57		59			Tamis River West
18/08/2013	12:47	DL0HGW	20m	SSB	55		55			Cape Arkona			DE0123 – Cape Arkona (Old)
18/08/2013	12:54	S51LGT	20m	SSB	59		59		Milos	Cape Madona			SI0001 – Cape Madona Lighthouse Piran
18/08/2013	13:04	GB2AL	20m	SSB	59		58		Fred	Ardnamurchan Lighthouse			UK0117 – Ardnamurchan Lighthouse
18/08/2013	13:51	EI1NC/P	40m	SSB						Roche’s Point			IE0010 – Roche’s Point
18/08/2013	13:59	GB2MYA	40m	SSB	59		59		Terry	Lanchishire
18/08/2013	14:16	G4ROJ/P	40m	SSB	59				Rodger				Kite Antenna
18/08/2013	14:23	G0GNI	40m	SSB	59		59		Mike	Isle of White
18/08/2013	14:28	GB0NLH	40m	SSB	59		59		Malcolm	Isle of White			UK0067 – The Needles Isle of Wight
18/08/2013	14:33	M3ZLI	40m	SSB	59		59		Paul
18/08/2013	14:36	G0IIQ	40m	SSB	59		59		Dave	Grimsby
18/08/2013	14:38	M1EYA	40m	SSB	43		59		Richard
18/08/2013	14:39	M0ZAE	40m	SSB	57		57		Henry
18/08/2013	14:41	9VDG7MM	40m	SSB	59		59						Maritime Mobile @ Artic Circle
18/08/2013	14:43	G4YOH	40m	SSB	57		57			Essex
18/08/2013	14:44	G3YUN	40m	SSB	55		59		Ian	Wigan			QRP running 9W
18/08/2013	14:46	GM3YBQ	40m	SSB	57		59		Ken				100 W
18/08/2013	14:49	PI4DX	40m	SSB	59		59		Erik
18/08/2013	14:50	GM7ESM/P	40m	SSB	59		59		Howard	Aberdeen
18/08/2013	14:57	EI3JM	40m	SSB	57		51			Westport Co. Mayo
18/08/2013	15:07	MI6NID	40m	SSB	59		59		Peter
18/08/2013	15:08	GI0SSA	40m	SSB			59		Kieth
18/08/2013	15:08	PA0AKN	40m	SSB	59		59		Don
18/08/2013	15:10	GB0NHL	40m	SSB	59		57		Rian				UK0039 – Noss Head Lighthouse
18/08/2013	15:11	G3VCN	40m	SSB	59		58		Paul	Plymouth
18/08/2013	15:11	DJ7PI	40m	SSB	59		59
18/08/2013	15:13	PA4JV	40m	SSB	59		59		Jack	North Sea Coast
18/08/2013	15:14	M0XLD	40m	SSB	59		59		Kevin	Yorkshire
18/08/2013	15:15	F8DVD	40m	SSB	59		59		Frank	Macon East France
18/08/2013	15:16	G0ABY	40m	SSB	55		59		Phil	Stockton on Tees
18/08/2013	15:17	M3AOC	40m	SSB	59		59		Derek	Redcar
18/08/2013	15:19	G0TRB	40m	SSB	58		59		Roger
18/08/2013	15:21	EI3HBB	40m	SSB	59		59		Chris	Cork
18/08/2013	15:22	G3XMM	40m	SSB	59		59		Tom	Gloucester
18/08/2013	15:24	MI0MVP	40m	SSB	59		59		Alex	Tandraee Nr Belfast
18/08/2013	15:25	M6KVJ	40m	SSB	59		59		David	Sydmouth
18/08/2013	15:26	M6DWE	40m	SSB	57		59		David				TL16
18/08/2013	15:28	GW0MHK	40m	SSB	59		59		Len	Nth Wales
18/08/2013	15:29	G4PZW	40m	SSB	59		57			Ely Cambridge
18/08/2013	15:31	G8HXT	40m	SSB	59		57		Paul
18/08/2013	15:32	G0WWD	40m	SSB	59		59		David	SW UK
18/08/2013	15:33	GW1DPL	40m	SSB	59		59		Martin	Swansea