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

“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”

For the past few years we have written this note in our Lundy briefing on the GARES web site - and how true for our 2012 visit! The weather forecast the night before was not good but the Lundy shore office confirmed that we would be sailing from Bideford on Saturday 7th, departing at 09.00 and due to land on Lundy at 11.00. Saturday dawned with torrential rain which was forecast to last the day and into Sunday - so any thoughts of operating in VHF NFD were quickly abandoned, and the 2 metre transceiver, 4m and 70cm transverters were reluctantly removed from the luggage. The crew advised us that the crossing would be very rough - why do they always smile when they impart such information? - but by the time we reach Lundy, the storm will have passed through. We were soon gliding down the River Torridge heading for the Bideford Bar and the open sea which was indeed rough but no worries - in a couple of hours time we will be on Lundy, heading for that first pint in the Tavern. Little did we realise it would be quite a while before we would be setting foot on dry land!

As we drew near to Lundy we realised that the howling easterly was strengthening - and an easterly wind on Lundy brings big problems as the only safe landing area on the island faces east which becomes an angry mass of water causing great difficulty for any boat or ship attempting to dock. The tannoy announcement informed us that the conditions were too rough and that we would take shelter round in Jenny’s Cove on the west side of the island and attempt a landing when conditions improved. In the relative calm of Jenny’s (by now the sun was shining) it was hard to believe that just over half a mile away round the other side of the island that a gale was raging. After lazing the afternoon sipping tea and eating a pasty or two it was decided that an attempt at landing would be made - but that the approach would be rough - indeed too rough as the captain decided when a short distance from the jetty to reverse back, return to Jenny’s and wait a bit longer. At 17.30 it was decided to have another try - and sure enough the sea had calmed down a bit but it was still a bit hairy as we docked. It turned out that someone who was leaving the island that day filmed some of the action and posted the video on Youtube:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV6EYNZMhds

So nine hours later feeling a bit tired we finally stumbled on to Lundy, climbed the steep path up to the village, checked in and headed for our chosen property for the week - Government House. A reviving pot of tea and we were soon feeling ready for a meal in the tavern. A folk group, who by the way had entertained us on our prolonged voyage, announced that they would be performing in the Tavern later so it was well after midnight before we stumbled tired and weary back to Government House and bed !!

Sunday morning - dry and bright, so let’s get the antenna erected. The vertical antenna was quickly in place and a couple of CW contacts on 20m confirmed all was working as expected. Conscious of the need to put a club ladder entry for the WARC challenge we quickly tried 18MHz and sure enough heard and worked some European stations. Conditions for the next few days were not good but I persevered with 18MHz. By the Wednesday we had worked out that we could fit the 80m dipole into the plateau immediately in front of Government House which enabled us to join in the AM net on 80 metres in the morning. Activity was mainly on 18MHz and only once did we hear any activity on 24MHz - LY54SOP, who I managed to work. The week was rounded off by a solid 40m ssb qso with Alan, G4MGW who turned out to be the only club member we managed to work.

All too soon the station was being dismantled for shipment back to the mainland, and under a clear blue sky and flat calm conditions we sailed from Lundy back to Ilfracombe on Saturday 14th July with another Lundy operating week behind us. And to sum up? The vertical worked well but HF conditions were so poor during the week it was a bit of a struggle with 10watts. Having said that, when the dipole was erected and received signals compared between the two antennas, on 40m very often there was no noticeable difference.

On our arrival at Ilfracombe we met up with the lads from the South Bristol club who were waiting to embark for Lundy so Government House would soon re-activated!

And Lundy 2013?

A visit during the Spring (mid-March) has been booked and confirmed - more details later.

The remains of a Heinkel that crashed into the cliffs on the west side of the island during WW2, and a wider view of that area.

Click on pictures to open larger version (in new window)

Brian (G4CIB) and Leta (G4RHK)

Back to list of visits
or read about Brian and Leta’s preparations for their next visit