07/02/2008 | NB1RI CQ Field Day - This is Narragansett Bay One Rhode Island / Marine Mobile

June 28th and 29th 2008 marked the forth year the NBARC "Saltyhams" operated Marine Mobile aboard sailing vessels during Field Day, a tradition that was started back in 2004 when Brad KA1SVW, Scott KB1IDD, and Steve KA1RCI operated for the first time as 2C RI aboard the 29' costal cruiser Foolish Pleasure.

Our adventures that first year were documented in the June 2005 issue of QST and each year since our little group has grown larger and we have consistently beaten our previous years Q totals and score. We were not able to operate in 2006 due to severe weather conditions that made it unsafe to be out on the water.

This year was no exception, with our voice operations aboard the 46' ketch Bellerophon and cw operations aboard the 30' sloop Destiny, beating last years numbers. The NB1RI crew were out again this year and as always Food, Fun, and Friendship were the weekends motto. We also had some visitors to our floating field day site, Rick KD1WE and Barry N1TOQ both ventured out on Narragansett Bay to check out the NB1RI / MM 2C RI operations. Sadly our friend Scott KB1IDD could not join us as his father passed away Friday evening while we were underway to our field day anchorage. Although Scott could not join us this year all of our thought and prayers were with him.

Just like last year the RI Air Show was in full swing the same weekend and we were able to watch several of the exciting aerial events over head while operating our radios. Also the US Coast Guard 140-foot Icebreaking Tug THUNDER BAY (WTGB 108) out of Rockland, ME was on hand providing security at the air show, she dropped anchor next to us our first night on station.

Brad hailed the Thunder Bay and after establishing contact with the Coast Guard vessel he notified them we would soon be firing our cannon for colors, he wanted to avoid having them returning fire as their guns are MUCH BIGGER! This year we had two cannon in use, Bruce KD1BE shipped aboard his black powder cannon and we enjoyed firing several volleys from both cannon over the weekend.

Once again we were flying the ARRL Battle Flag and NB1RI with signal flags aboard Bellerophon. There was also some discussion about adding a third vessel to our little fleet for next year and running 3C. I really liked that idea because that means there would be a third reefer full of food!

The NB1RI crew - Steve, KA1RCI (center rear), Bruce, KD1BE (right), Ernie, N1SW (left) and Brad, KA1SVW (front), Scott KB1IDD (absent) -- KA1RCI