Sunspots and DX!!!  Operating from the Museum Ship Columbia at the mouth of Mighty Columbia River was the icing on the cake! Lot's of visitors to the ship during a beautiful weekend on the coast was a great plug for ham radio and boy did the ops step up with contacts and good food. we weren't competitive YET, but the seed has been planted. Four DX entities on 160 in just a few hours and 80 meters was off the hook! 40 meters was like I have dreamed about at night. Even the high bands are starting to cooperate and 15 has shown itself to me in ways I've never seen.

Many thanks to the Columbia River Maritime Museum for allowing the club to have access to radio room and great wire antennas 7 days a week for the last 29 years straight. Also thanks to the Sunset Empire Amateur Radio Club for keeping the station operable. Operators were W7LY,KF7NCP,KF7IRD,KF7NWT,NA7Q and K6BSR. A few operators actually slept on the boat and one even got seasick!

There were some rough edges that I would like to address before next year, but I think for the first time actively contesting from the club station with all green operators we did great. For starters the paper log has GOT to go for contesting. Second, I think the Icom 745 is getting really tired and shack ergonomics suck. It sure is nice to have a bay off the Pacific Ocean as a ground plane for our wire antennas. Sitting IN the water is way better than just next to it.

If you worked W7BU and want a card we are 100% via Buro. If you want it bad, then you know the routine:) Looking forward to next year and this contest isn't over for another four hours!!!

The Lightship Columbia is on the National Register and open to the public 7 days a week at the 17'th street dock In Astoria Oregon. Local hams volunteer to operate the club station W7BU and visitors are welcome to operate or just talk history. The club has been active on the ship since 1982 and in 2012 we will celebrate 30 years aboard!  Be our friend on facebook and celebrate with us! Search W7BU or Friends of Lightship Columbia on Facebook. We have regular updates about operations on the ship as well as lot's of pictures...