06/27/2003 | VP9/N Too bad the contest didn't include Friday evening - had a great Es opening all the
way to the west coast. I worked W7UT, W6KK and WA7JTM while running only 10 watts!
2003 would have rivaled 1987 as one of the all time best June VHF QSO Party contest if
the contest had been June 13 - 15...

At the start of the contest I had weak Es to 8, 9, and the Missouri
at the edge of single hop Es out to the "Es void" (between single and
double hop Es). Gave Jeff K1MOD en40 his #100 country on 6M for DXCC. Worked
K5AM DM54 Saturday evening for my best DX(that I can count) for the contest.

Most of Saturday evening was an excercise in frustration as I could hear many
4s and 5s(K5TR - I heard you), but most had their antennas pointed away from me or
were working strong single hop stations that covered me up.

Sunday morning I had only 9K points and no Es. Noted good scatter signals from K1TEO,
N2PA, K3EAR, W2SZ/1, K8GP, etc peaking around 1100 - 1200 utc. Sounded just what I
usually hear from Kansas, except pointing west. :-) Sunday afternoon Es started
to Florida, Virgin Is. (worked both grids there) and W1, and VE1. Highlight of
the contest was catching a 1/2 hour 6M opening to Europe at 2020 utc Sunday and
logging a dozen Gs and ONs. Sadly... the ARRL says none of these will count for
my score. Chatted several times with Kevin, V25XX, on Es when conditions slow to the states. He did a great job from Antigua. Sunday evening finally got a solid Es opening to the "mother lode" (1, 2,
3, 4, and 8 land) and ran off nearly 200 contacts. Big signals from Bernie,
W3UR, K2AXX, and Dave K8CC. Es began dying out around 0100 and last station
heard was K8GP CQing on 50.143 CW 'til 0130 utc June 16.

So ... considering how the contest started I feel I finished with a respectable
score from Bermuda. I monitored and called CQ on 144.200 MHz often, but no signals
were heard on 2 Meters. Note the grid map may not be complete, but gives an idea of
what I worked from VP9 in the contest. Only "complaint" is I wish DX stations could work each other as well as W/VE.

Station: 6M IC-706MII, 5 el M2 at 20 feet.
2M same radio, CC Jr. Boomer at 20 feet.

QTH FM72 at VP9GE's(tnx Ed for your help) I plan to be back in September in VP9.

more comments, pictures, link to audio files at: http://www.wb8xx.com/n0jk/ -- N0JK