With no antennas in the air for VHF and the contest coming I did alot of research online before settling upon the DK7ZB 6ele 6M 50 Ohm 7.1M boom design yagi. I built it from the last bits of raw aluminum in the junk pile by first assembling a boom long enough and then scavanging enough pieces of 1/2" & 3/8" tubing to make the elements.  Two days before the contest, in winds gusting to 75 MPH, I built the antenna over the entire day taking several breaks to eat something, drink a cup of hot tea, and rest up a bit in front of the fire. Arouns Sunset it was ready to be mounted on the tower trailer. Planning to mount it after breakfast the next morning, I was surprised to find it snowing heavily when I  awoke. By the time it stopped around 11AM I  had to dig the one day old antenna from a foot of fresh wet snow, mount it, a balun, run the feedline, and raise the tower. Once done I checked it's Gain, SWR & F/B performance only to find it all very close to what the model predicted. So, I  entered the contest 4 hours late, but I  was on the air when a few days earlier I didn't even have a 6M Yagi ready to install to begin with! Thanks to DK7ZB for his wonderful website of tested antenna designs that if followed to the letter work eveytime! I have built 3 of his antennas now and each one performed as claimed with no problems.  It was sad that after all this work the contest itself was lack luster with pitiful conditions and low activity levels.  It never helps to miss the beginning of a contest so folks know your there to begin with after being gone for two years. Still, I am now back on the air and enjoying 6M again with a 30 year newer design! See you in the pileups!