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

Our trip this year was a lot earlier than normal, before the start of the regular sailings so we were literally whisked to the island in under ten minutes in a helicopter from Hartland Point. That simple sentence, however, hides the actual detail as Hartland Point is about as remote as you can get in North Devon, so our trek to the south west started the previous day, when under grey skies we made our way down the M5, along the North Devon Link, A361, picking up the A39 near Barnstaple, then heading in the direction of Bude, turning off the A39 for our overnight accommodation at the Hartland Quay Hotel. Friday 15th dawned very wet, and so it was to be for the rest of the day. Having checked in at the heliport and received our flight briefing - this, by the way is not the usual “airline” style briefing, but the full works lasting about ten minutes, including full ditching procedure! Yours truly was nominated to sit “up-front” with pilot, and with our destination punched into the GPS, we were away, the pilot muttering something about “there’s an island out there somewhere” as we headed off at 700 feet into the mist and rain.

Our Hellicopter

First stop the Marisco tavern to meet up with all the staff and other friends and the obligatory “first pint”. By mid-afternoon we had trekked the mile and a half to our billet for the week - Tibbetts - the former Admiralty lookout station, stoked the fire up, and - miracles - the rain stopped, so decided to put up the vertical antenna. A few QSOs on 24MHz and 18MHz confirmed all was working and it was back to the tavern for our evening meal. All thoughts of radio operation were put on hold until the following morning. Saturday dawned dull and wet, so this was a day to be spent indoors and on the radio. Plenty of contest activity - Russian DX contest so throughout the day I dipped in and out of 18MHz, 21MHz, 24MHz and 28MHz looking for countries to start on the lower rungs of G3XMM’s Spring Accumulator. All the usual European countries were worked, but a bonus in the afternoon was working USA and Canada on 21MHz. Operating ceased when hunger and thirst demanded another visit to the Marisco Tavern. At a mile and a half each way we found that not only do you work up an appetite going but the return journey induces hunger pangs!!

Sunday dawned bright and sunny and so it stayed for the rest of the day so just a few QSOs in the morning, which started well with VK6AA on 21MHz.

Monday through to Wednesday were perfect days - sunshine and more sunshine - so operating was limited to just the scheduled hour in the morning and evening - sadly no 80m or 40m contacts with GARES members.

Taking a rest in the sun

As per forecast, the weather broke on Thursday with a Force 8 gale which persisted until Friday, the day of our return so sadly the aerials were lowered on Thursday morning just as the gale was winding up.

The trip back on Friday was interesting weather-wise - very gusty winds - Leta had the pleasure of sitting up front with the pilot.

For the record - 24 countries worked for the club HF Spring Accumulator as follows:-
Australia, Azores, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Islands, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA and Wales.

Rig - IC703 - 10watts. Antenna - vertical to a design as suggested by Les, G0ULH

The solar panel just about coped but on reflection it would have been more prudent to have taken two SLAs as one could be on charge whilst the other was in use.

Operating outdoors

All in all another enjoyable visit - and like the trip in 2011, the final day was spent listening to the unfolding drama of the rescue of an injured fisherman from the French fishing vessel “Alf” - here’s the link:- https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/7295

Brian (G4CIB) and Leta (G4RHK)

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or read about Brian and Leta’s preparations for their next visit