CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW

Call: P49Y
Operator(s): AE6Y
Station: P49Y

Class: SOAB HP
QTH: Aruba
Operating Time (hrs): 44
Radios: SO2R

Summary:
Band QSOs Zones Countries
------------------------------
160: 239 15 44
80: 676 24 77
40: 1208 30 95
20: 1276 32 95
15: 1194 25 83
10: 647 16 49
------------------------------
Total: 5240 142 443 Total Score = 9,044,685

Club: Northern California Contest Club

Comments:

This trip was completely unplanned. For the last two years, my
station co-owner John, W6LD, has operated this contest as a multi-
single, P40L (setting a SA MS record last year). He couldn’t make
it this time, and due to some last-minute scheduling changes, I was
able to make a very quick trip, arriving on Thursday and leaving on
Tuesday. With the help of P43A, P43L, P43RC and W2GD, the antennas
had been beaten into shape last month for CQWW SSB, the Alpha 87A had
been replaced, and it seemed that everything was in order for a
short trip that would actually feature operating, not station
maintenance (though I don’t recommend flying all night two days
before the contest).

This was my first ever CQWW CW, and, wow, was it a learning
experience! There were three of us in AB HP on Aruba, and I got
taught some real contesting lessons by two of the best, both prior
winners: Dick Norton, N6AA, operating as P40T at Jackie’s, P43P,
and John Crovelli, W2GD, P40W. The three of us were
at roughly comparable stations within about four miles of each other,
and the two of them outscored me by a combined 5 million points!

In talking to them afterwards, and comparing rate sheets, it was
clear that the major edge they had was the ability to take advantage
of high-rate opportunities on the first day. Thus, each of them had
about 900 more QSOs than I did on the first day, but only about 100
more on the second day. I probably spent too much time looking for
mults, as I had about the same number as Dick, even though he had
1000 more QSOs. But mainly, I just have to get better at the art
of picking whole calls out of the packet pileups and responding
quickly.

Regardless, it was a terrific experience.

As usual on Aruba, even on a short trip there is the bonus of having
fun with very friendly people, including Jean-Pierre, P43A; Chris,
P43C; Emily, P43E; Jackie, P43P, Joop, P43JB; John, KK9A, P40A;
John, W2GD, P40W;Dick, N6AA, P40T.

Equipment:
Radios: Two IC-756 PRO 2s, Alpha 87A, Alpha 86
Antennas: Force 12 4 el 10/15/20, 2 el 40, C31XR; inv vees for 80,
160; 3 beverages
Software: CQPWIN, ver. 10.5

73 and thanks to all who participated,
Andy