G4CIB and G4RHK on Lundy
7th to 14th July 2012

Our annual visit to Lundy will take place from 7th to 14th July - a special reason being G4CIB’s 65th birthday (see more later). As we will be meeting up with old friends on the island we have decided to stay as a group in Government House - a spacious granite bungalow originally built for the island agent but now used as a holiday let. This is the building that the South Bristol club use when they activate Lundy and I see by their club calendar that they are coming on to the island the day we leave!

We’ll be taking our Icom IC703 for HF and 6m and my old IC202 and amplifier for 2m, also transverters for 4m and 70cm. Just for a change we’re going to try out a vertical antenna for HF to a design that Les G0ULH has been experimenting with, as well as a dipoles for 4m & 6m, a 3 element SOTA beam for 2m and a 5 element ZL special for 70cm.

Our usual operating schedule is 0700 - 0800 BST, 1700 - 1800 BST daily, but the weekend we arrive is VHF NFD and we hope to be active as much as possible so look out for us on 6m, 4m, 2m and 70cm. On Monday 9th July I will be celebrating my birthday so can’t guarantee I’ll be capable of having a QSO with G4AYM in the evening! On Tuesday 10th July in the evening we hope to be active on the 432MHz UKAC contest. Other operating will take place as and when the weather, social engagements and other pressing matters on the island permit. For inter-island communication, Leta and I keep in touch with a couple of Hora 50mW 70cm transceivers, using 439.52MHz, but it will be highly unlikely we will QSO any club members on this frequency!

We have had a special QSL card printed and will be pleased to QSL direct from Lundy as the card will then be stamped and franked with Lundy’s own postage stamps as the island is outside the jurisdiction of Royal Mail and so have their own postage stamps. I will have a call book with me, so “QTHR” during any QSO will confirm that the details in the current call book are correct. For those who use the internet, I will be pleased to qsl via eQSL.

Our many years of visiting Lundy has taught us to expect the unexpected - all the above is written in good faith - weather dominates life on Lundy and the first hurdle will be that the sea state will enable us to cross on the supply boat MS Oldenberg. Should the weather exceed Force 5-6 then the helicopter is used. Depending on the amount of cargo which needs to be transported to the island, limits can be imposed regarding the amount of luggage which we can take, although when this has happened in the past, we’ve been able to take all the equipment including the mast.

Leta and I look forward to having a QSO with you whilst on Lundy.

Brian (G4CIB) and Leta (G4RHK)

Back to list of visits
or read what actually happened on Brian and Leta’s visit