ILLW 2018

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 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.
18/08/2018 10:35 G8ALS 80m SSB 59   59   Mike Coventry      
18/08/2018 10:48 DC1PM 40m SSB 59   59   Matthieu Kalterherberg      
18/08/2018 10:49 GB2SJ 40m SSB 59   59     Whitburn     UK0026 – Souter Lighthouse
18/08/2018 10:52 EI8CE 40m SSB 59   59   Aiden Waterford      
18/08/2018 10:52 GI3UBA 40m SSB 59   59   Alex Bangor      
18/08/2018 11:01 PI4WAL 40m SSB 57   59     Westkapelle     NL0017 – Westkapelle High Lighthouse
18/08/2018 11:23 GB4EUL 40m SSB 59   59   Rich Usk     UK0159 – East Usk Lighthouse
18/08/2018 11:32 GB8SL 40m SSB 59   59   Pete Shoreham-by-Sea     UK0023 – Shoreham Lighthouse
18/08/2018 11:54 GB0GPF 40m SSB 59   59   David Belfast Loch     Grey Point Fort Amateur Radio Society
18/08/2018 11:59 GB0HLH 40m SSB 59   59   Stan Hartlepool     UK0188 – Hartlepool Lighthouse (The Heugh)
18/08/2018 12:02 M0BZZ 40m SSB 59   59   Bob Birkenhead      
18/08/2018 12:03 M0SQU/M 40m SSB 59   59   Mark        
18/08/2018 12:06 M6ENS 40m SSB 59   59   Dave Lancashire      
18/08/2018 12:09 GW6STK 40m SSB 59   59   Robert Colwyn Bay      
18/08/2018 12:11 G2ABR 40m SSB 59   59   Chris Harwich      
18/08/2018 12:12 G4GTX 40m SSB 58   59   Stuart Sunderland      
18/08/2018 12:17 MI0JST 40m SSB 59   59   Victor Bushmills      
18/08/2018 12:18 ON4CB 40m SSB 59   59   Kirt Putte      
18/08/2018 12:20 M3GJA 40m SSB 59   59   Trevor Kings Lynn      
18/08/2018 12:22 G8UHV 40m SSB 59   59   Glyn North England      
18/08/2018 12:24 G0BFJ 40m SSB 59   59   Brian Huddersfield      
18/08/2018 12:26 GB2TD 40m SSB 59   59   Alan Anglesey     UK0047 – Penmon/Trwyn Du
18/08/2018 12:27 2M0GVB 40m SSB 33   59     Buddon     UK0207/UK0208 – Buddon Ness High and Low
18/08/2018 12:32 MI0TGO 40m SSB 59   59   Brian Belfast      
18/08/2018 12:39 G3YQD 40m SSB 59   59   Dave Manchester      
18/08/2018 13:02 EI7HDB 40m SSB 59   59   Dale Co Carlow      
18/08/2018 13:03 2I0YBH 40m SSB 59   59   James Dungannon      
18/08/2018 13:05 M0XLT 40m SSB 59   59   Kevin Skipton      
18/08/2018 13:19 GB0PLL 40m SSB 59   59   Alan Llaneilian     UK0222 – Point Lynas Lighthouse
18/08/2018 13:29 F4UPL 40m SSB 59   59   Dave        
18/08/2018 13:30 EI3JB 40m SSB 59   59   Nicky Waterford      
18/08/2018 13:32 G1PIE 40m SSB 59   59   Mark Preston Lancashire      
18/08/2018 13:36 GM4MTI 40m SSB 59   59   Stuart Oban      
18/08/2018 13:38 G0GWL 40m SSB 59   59   David Co Durham      
18/08/2018 13:40 M0LJT 40m SSB 59   59   Eddie Bristol      
18/08/2018 13:42 GI4TAJ 40m SSB 59   59   Joe Ballyclare      
18/08/2018 13:44 G0AJJ 40m SSB 59   59   Lynda North Walsham      
18/08/2018 13:46 G0TSH 40m SSB 59   59   Keith York      
18/08/2018 13:48 M0OBU 40m SSB 59   59   John Stoke on Trent      
18/08/2018 13:50 G7VKP 40m SSB 59   59   Adrian Chesterfield      
18/08/2018 13:55 G4RAC 40m SSB 59   59   John Burton on Trent      
18/08/2018 13:56 M3HJH 40m SSB 59   59   Harry        
18/08/2018 13:58 F/G6CKB/P 40m SSB 59   59   David        
18/08/2018 14:00 M6KCI 40m SSB 59   59   Dave Oldham      
18/08/2018 14:04 M0ALD 40m SSB 59   59   John Leeds      
18/08/2018 14:07 M5AJB 40m SSB 57   59     Halstead      
18/08/2018 14:08 G0EWV 40m SSB 59   59   Trevor Bolton      
18/08/2018 14:09 M0GGR 40m SSB 59   59   Andy West Yorkshire      
18/08/2018 14:13 2E0ETS 40m SSB 57   59   John        
18/08/2018 14:14 2E0PPF 40m SSB 59   58   Steve Chard      
18/08/2018 14:15 M0UCB 40m SSB 59   59   George Morpeth      
18/08/2018 14:18 G8GWK 40m SSB 59   59   Chris Luton      
18/08/2018 14:20 G0JPS 40m SSB 59   59   Chris Bristol      
18/08/2018 14:25 2E0MNG 40m SSB 59   57   Neal Derby      
18/08/2018 14:27 DL5XU 40m SSB 59   59   Mat Eisenach      
18/08/2018 14:28 M0YOB 40m SSB 55   55   Dave Liverpool      
18/08/2018 14:30 F8DVD 40m SSB 57   57   Frank Macon East France      
18/08/2018 14:32 DJ8VC 40m SSB 57   59   Alfons Emsdetten      
18/08/2018 14:34 G1BBY 40m SSB 58   59   Walter Morpeth      
18/08/2018 14:35 F9LM 40m SSB 59   59   Maurice Maurens      
18/08/2018 14:37 IU1CYA 40m SSB 43   59   Giuseppe Torino      
18/08/2018 14:39 EI9JU 40m SSB 59   59   Gerry Lifford      
18/08/2018 14:45 ON6OO 40m SSB 59   59   Dirk Westmeerbeek      
18/08/2018 14:46 F5CBU 40m SSB 59   59   Yves Plancoet      
18/08/2018 14:48 MM6CXJ 40m SSB 57   59   Robin Skirza      
18/08/2018 15:03 OJ0C 20m SSB 59   59     Market Reef Lighthouse      
18/08/2018 15:06 EA8BUV 20m SSB 57   53   Harry Canary Islands      
18/08/2018 15:10 IW5BNL 20m SSB 53   57   David        
19/08/2018 10:08 G3OKA 80m SSB 59   59   John Merseyside      
19/08/2018 10:14 2E0GYW 80m SSB 55   57   Thomas Bradford      
19/08/2018 10:15 M6ENS 80m SSB 55   55   Dave Lancashire      
19/08/2018 10:17 M6IZF 80m SSB 57   57   Charlie Glouscester      
19/08/2018 10:20 2E0RIP 80m SSB 59   59   Bob Plymouth      
19/08/2018 10:26 GW0FGO 80m SSB 55   59   Bill Cwmbran      
19/08/2018 10:30 GW4GNY 80m SSB 59   59   Martin Welshpool      
19/08/2018 10:42 G0FOG 80m SSB 58   57   Colin Nottingham     QSO Heard by DH5FA
19/08/2018 10:48 G3RKF 80m SSB 57   58   Terry Manchester      
19/08/2018 10:53 G0BFJ 80m SSB 59   58   Brian Huddersfield      
19/08/2018 10:55 M0ZAE 80m SSB 58   56   Henry Bedford      
19/08/2018 10:57 G7KWH 80m SSB 59   58   Paul Nottingham      
19/08/2018 11:01 G4LOE 80m SSB 57   58   Garry Solihull      
19/08/2018 11:07 G3LUA 80m SSB 58   59   Alan Solihull      
19/08/2018 11:13 M0LJT 80m SSB 59   59   Eddie Bristol      
19/08/2018 11:17 G0ALI 80m SSB 59   57   Alison Kingswinford      
19/08/2018 11:50 GB1OL 40m SSB 59   59   Glenn North Ronaldsay     UK0082/UK0083 – North Ronaldsay Old and New
19/08/2018 12:30 GB2LBN 40m SSB 59   59   Gary Dunbar     UK0034 – Barns Ness Lighthouse
19/08/2018 12:40 DF1LEO 40m SSB 43   55   Henrik Ratzeburg      
19/08/2018 12:41 M6GBO 40m SSB     59   Bruce Plymouth      
19/08/2018 12:47 PE1OAD 40m SSB 59   59   Michael Breezand      
19/08/2018 12:49 EI5AL 40m SSB         Paul Cork      
19/08/2018 12:51 MM3PDM/M 40m SSB 59       Peter Peterhead      
19/08/2018 12:57 MI0RUR 40m SSB 57   56   David Belfast      
19/08/2018 13:08 EI2WRC 40m SSB 59   59   Roger Churchtown Co Wexford     IE0003 – Hook Head Lighthouse
19/08/2018 13:09 GB0NFL 40m SSB 59   59   Ian North Foreland Lighthouse     UK0128 – North Foreland Lighthouse
19/08/2018 13:12 M6EJO/P 40m SSB 53   59            
19/08/2018 13:17 EI4KM 40m SSB 55       Steve Co Wexford      
19/08/2018 13:22 G0WAB 40m SSB 59   59   Terry Wirral Peninsula      
19/08/2018 13:23 M0SHK 40m SSB 57   59   Ken Sherringham      
19/08/2018 13:27 DB3LBG 40m SSB         Bjorn Frankenfeld      
19/08/2018 13:28 2E0KHI 40m SSB 59   59   Keith Liverpool      
19/08/2018 13:29 GB6SL 40m SSB 59   59   Mike Kingston upon Hull      
19/08/2018 13:31 G4ZRP 40m SSB 57   57   Brian Wirral Penninsula     WAB SJ28
19/08/2018 13:33 M0ZAW 40m SSB 59   59   Neil Cornwall      
19/08/2018 13:37 M0VCB 40m SSB 59   59   Conrad Scarborough      
19/08/2018 13:41 M0WPJ 40m SSB 59   58   Peter Canterbury      
19/08/2018 13:42 M0PER 40m SSB 59   59   Alan Chester      
19/08/2018 13:46 2E0DYM 40m SSB 59   59   Peter North Devon      
19/08/2018 13:50 2E0GBK 40m SSB 55   57   Keith Leatherhead     WAB TQ15
19/08/2018 13:52 GM0KET 40m SSB 57   59   Ray Aberdeenshire      
19/08/2018 13:58 GI4SAM 40m SSB 45   55   Sam Belfast      
19/08/2018 14:02 M0KED 40m SSB 59   59   Andy Lincoln      
19/08/2018 14:09 GW4RLP 40m SSB 59   59   Terry Carnarfon      
19/08/2018 14:18 G8IQA 40m SSB 59   59   Fred Sheffield      
19/08/2018 14:20 M1DHA/P 40m SSB 59   59   Alan Lancashire      
19/08/2018 14:23 F4LTS 40m SSB 57   59   Eric Quemeneven      
19/08/2018 14:27 G4WIA 40m SSB 57   59   Ivan Lizard      
19/08/2018 14:30 M0BJX 40m SSB 57   59   Robert Middlesborough      
19/08/2018 14:30 GB2MUC 40m SSB 55   55   Euan Shetland     UK0219 – Muckle Flugga Lighthouse
19/08/2018 14:34 M6WHH 40m SSB 59   59   Alan Brighton      
19/08/2018 14:38 G1KPS 40m SSB 57   52   Brighton Canvey Island      
19/08/2018 14:41 GB0NL 40m SSB 57   57   Aaron Newhaven     UK0190 – Newhaven Lighthouse
19/08/2018 14:44 G4NUJ 40m SSB 59   59   Ken Westward Ho!      
19/08/2018 14:46 DK1TBL/P 40m SSB 53   59   Thomas Neunkirchen      
19/08/2018 14:48 M0TRJ 40m SSB 57   55   Simon Great Yarmouth      
19/08/2018 14:49 M0BUI 40m SSB 53   55   Les Bude      
19/08/2018 14:51 M0GWD 40m SSB 59   59   Mick Portsmouth      
19/08/2018 14:53 M0WTR 40m SSB 59   59   Tony Warrington      
19/08/2018 14:55 G0EWV 40m SSB 55   59   Trevor Bolton      
19/08/2018 14:56 DH1PAL 40m SSB 55   59   Werner Cologne      
19/08/2018 14:58 ON3BMW 40m SSB 57   55   Arnauld La Louviere      
19/08/2018 15:01 G3KAF 40m SSB 59   59   Jim Manchester      
19/08/2018 22:47 G0GWY 80m SSB 59   59   Geoff Scunthorpe     WAB Square SE90
19/08/2018 23:51 M0WDE 80m SSB 59   59   Eddie Stegness      
19/08/2018 23:58 G4ZTQ 80m CW 59   59   John Chichester