VP9/WA4PGM

September  9 – 13, 2005

The Monday before my departure to VP9 had Hurricane Nate headed towards Bermuda. To my luck Nate picked up speed and missed Bermuda to the South and East. My departure was on time(7:10AM) and I was headed to VP9 to operate several contest. It was prefect flying weather with beautiful skies, we touched down 30 minutes early and Ed(VP9GE) was there to pick me up. After a short visit to the Market Place for groceries we had the rig setup in no time. My 1st contact was my friend CT1ILT Filipe who operated with us at VP5X, I turned the rig on, turn the dial and there he was 21.295 Mhz, 1751Z.

WAE SSB 339 QSOs + 339 QTCs = 678 + 124 Mults = 84k
Very slow contest, after having very little sleep for 2 days prior to my flight I was worn out arriving to Bermuda. The first night I stayed up until
1AM and couldn't hold my eyes open any longer. Next day Hurricane Nate is far away from us but the solar flares would soon present problems for us all. I would start to have a good run and a flare would take out the band hearing no one. Had 1 hour of 207 Q/rate for best rate, while not operating WAE I would listen/call on 6 meters for contacts in the ARRL VHF Contest.

SEPT ARRL VHF 44 QSOs + 18 Grids = 702 points
Well not much to say here but 6 meters did open for just a few contacts. 1st contact was NJ2F EL96 1715z 9/11 until contact #35 1815z KG4TPQ EM92. Worked grids EL86,87,89,95,96,97,98,99,EM62,72,73,80,82,90,92,93,FM18,72.

Back open at 2312z 9/11 W4VQ EL98 until 2345z for last contact W4OV 2345z 9/11. Worked EL96,98,99,EM73,90.

Before the VHF contest I made 17 contacts in a 25 minute opening. Worked N8UUP 1425z EN82 9/10 until 1449z K8DE/m didn't get grid. Worked
EN81,82,90,91,FM18,19,FN00.

NA SPRINT CW 157/36 5,652 points
This contest totally blew me away, first time I've operated a Sprint in about 10 years. Had a fair start but had my macros setup wrong and had to
stop to correct those. Once I moved from 20 meters it went downhill, was beaten out numerous times on 40 and 80, many unanswered CQ's made it tough to get a rhythm going. My goal was to make 200 contacts so I fell short of it by far, these Sprints are mind boggling to say the least.

Monday I took the bus downtown to see the museum and walked around the downtown Hamilton area before heading over to the Royal Naval Dockyard. I had lunch at the Frog and Onion Pub then stopped by the glass blowing shop, walked around the fort a bit and then took the ferry boat to St. George's. That was a cool ride!! Walked around St. George's a while and then took the bus back to Ed's. The bands were still in horrible condition, Tuesday found the bands no better but all in all I had a wonderful time. Just to get away from work was a treat. Look for me back in Bermuda for 2006 CQWW CW.

73,
Kyle