Lifeboats on the Air...
Mike Dunning GD0HYM has arranged with the Royal National Lifeboat Institute a series of special event stations using the callsign GB5LB (5 Lifeboat Stations around the Island).
Stations will operate SSB on 80mtrs (3.7 MHz +/-) on the following Open Lifeboat days:-
Douglas Lifeboat Sunday May 10th 2009
Peel Lifeboat, Thursday June 11th 2009
Ramsey Lifeboat, Saturday July 4th 2009
Port Erin Lifeboat Sunday July 12th 2009
Port St Mary Lifeboat, Sunday July 26th 2009
There will be a special QSL card for the event and operators who contact 3 or more out of the 5 Lifeboat Stations will be eligible for a special RNLI certificate.
All QSL card must be sent to:-
Port St Mary Lifeboat
The Boat House
Lime Street
Port St Mary
Isle of Man
IM9 5EF
NOT VIA THE BUREAU.
Please also send an SAE and an IRC with all your QSL cards (UK stamps can’t be used from the IOM) if you would like a special certificate.
Local operators are required for all these events; for further details please contact the organiser Mike GD0HYM at "aquatechiom@mcb.net"
News from the Port St. Mary Lifeboat station on Sunday 26th July 2009.
News from the Port Erin Lifeboat station on Sunday 12th July 2009.
I am sorry to say that I was completly knackered by the time that I showed myself at Port Erin Lifeboat station after operation through most of the night on the IARU HF World Championship Contest, so I am deeply sorry for the limited supply of photos for this event, hopefully others may forward any more to me as and when they can.
When I arrived Dan Wood (GD0VIK) was operating 80m with a slow but steady stream of contacts, it was also nice to hear some of the contacts asking about the special award that was available for any stations that had worked 3 out of the 5 lifeboat stations.
Dan Wood (GD0VIK) working hard.
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The Isle of Man Amateur Radio Society and the RNLI Flags flying in the wind over the Lifeboat station in Port Erin.
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From the left we have Jack Black-Leigh (MD3WZU), David Kelly (MD3YUQ) and Dan Wood (GD0VIK).
News from the Ramsey Lifeboat station on Friday 4th July 2009.
What a day! we have just had two weeks of fantastic sunshine, and the day that we want to setup for Lifeboats on the Air, it poars down! typical me thinks!!
Anyway it all went smoothly, John Martin (GD4RAG) and his friend Davis were also joined by Bob Barden (MD0CCE) and in a small break of the weather the antenna was strung up across the road. See the photos below:
The building on South Prom, Ramsey that holds the Ramsey Lifeboat.
The Lifeboat all set for Lifeboat Day.
Turned out to be quite heavy rain, so we all had a long coffee break.
Bob Barden (MD0CCE) un-coiling the feeder whilst John Martin (GD4RAG) looks on.
ohn Martin (GD4RAG) un-coiling one of the 80m elements.
John MArtin (GD4RAG) playing with a few knots.
Bob Barden (MD0CCE) getting ready to lay out the feedeer to the Lifeboat station across the road.
David laying out the other element.
And time for a chat, Bob Barden (MD0CCE) and John Martin (GD4RAG) talking about various Ham Radio stuff, as you do!
What started off being a really horrible day, turned out to be another scorcher after the weather cleared later in the day!
News from the Peel Lifeboat station on Wednesday 11th June 2009.
We for the open day at the Peel Lifeboat station the weather managed to stay good, though the wind did pick up a bit.
It was an early start for Mike (GD0HYM), he said he got there for around 6:30am when most of us were still in bed, though as we were stuck to 80m's I think he got the best deal, more on this later.
During the morning we got a few amateurs passing through the Lifeboat station and joining in, these included John Parslow (GD4UHB), Stuart Hill (GD0OUD), Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB), Godfrey (Colyn) Baillie-Searle (GD4EIP), myself; James Sawle (MD0MDI) and finally Dan Wood (GD0VIK), and we even managed to get Godfrey on the Mike, and anyone knowing him will know that this is certainly a photographic opportunity, it is so rare that I might just have to send in the photo to RadCom and no-one else in the world would believe it.
Big Thanks to the crew of the Peel Lifeboat station for their kindness and especially Karl Barrow for the help over the two days.
Here are just a few of the stations that we managed to contact on the day, being 80m's as the day wore on the conditions grew steadily worse to the point where we only managed 1 very local contact in an hour of calling. A full list will be posted hopefully shortly.
2D0JEA, 2E0GQW, 2E0SBE, G0JMH, G0SEY, G0YLM, G2AFV, G3CRH, G3JIE, G3LDA, G3MRT, G3OKA, G3TGD, G3WRD, G3XGC, G4DMS, G4DNE, G4EGQ, G4FOJ, G4FTY, G4JGE, G4KCF, G4NFS, G4YFV, G7CLY, G8ALS, G8JGF, GB0RTM, GM3MWX, GM3YDN, GW0EGQ, GW4FNB, GW7FBV, GW8VPR/P, EI7CC, M0GGH, M0WHW, M1MCW, MW0SSB,
Many Thanks to the stations that did contact us, and please remember that if they contact just twice more they will be eligible for a special RNLI Award.
The Peel Lifeboat being pulled out for show.
It is one meaty boat and trailer, the Peel Lifeboat is a Mersey Class Lifeboat that is capable of working up to 250 miles from its base.
Carefully moving her into place at the top of the launching ramp.
Mike unning (GD0HYM) starting operating at 6:30am and I think he managed to find the best contacts on 80 meters, as the day wore on it got very noisy and very lonely.
Stuart Hill (GD0OUD) taking over from Mike (GD0HYM) and doing a great job in the dodgy conditions.
A View of the Tenacious from the old Castle.
Mike (GD0HYM) raising the flag above Peel Castle.
There she is...The flag of the IOMARS.
Stuart is joined by Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB) later in the day.
As you would expect, the lifeboats engine room is very clean and I would think easy to work on if ever required.
The large colour radar display unit mounted in the wheel house.
Notice the boats mascot above the hatch to the engine room.
And we thought most of our shacks were nicely kitted out, this is a real hive of technology.
These boats have to be fitted with every gadget possible, along with backups, this boat is equipment with some of the best equipment available, all to aid them in the purpose of saving lives when they are called upon.
All laid out in a very clean and logical way.
A flying bridge...
Big Thanks to arl Barrow for showing us around.Much appreciated.
John Parslow (GD4UHB), Stuart Hill (GD0OUD) and Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB) soldier on.
Causing a lot of interest in the sunlight.
This is why Peel is loved by many.
Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB) trying to fight through the QRM.
I think I caught John (GD4UHB) a bit by suprise in this one.
John's family turns up for moral support, or just to empty his wallet for Ice Creams.
That is actually Godfrey with a Mic in his hand, we did have to explain that he just has to hold the button in to speak as he is use to using a key. That's Dan Wood (GD0VIK) with the giggles as we all started taking the mick abit here...
Sorry but this very poor photo is of me (MD0MDI) on the mic, I thought doing the website would spare you lot from this ugly mug...
The square rigger Tenacious under sail of the coat of Peel in the Isle of Man.
News from the Peel Lifeboat station on Wednesday 10th June 2009.
Ok, not the day of Operation, but in the middle of the Isle of Man's TT (Tourists Throphy) racing we managed to get to peel on closed roads to set up the antenna for tomorrows operation. below are some photos of the setting up of the station ready for tomorrows operating. Big Thanks goes to John Martin (GD4RAG), his friend Dave (sorry no callsign), and James Sawle (MD0MDI) for the help.
John Martin (GD4RAG) gave the system a quick test on 3.760.400 MHz and we should thank the following for coming back with signal reports:
EI7GAB, G0BFJ, G0FFJ, G0FVH, G3OKA, G7CLY and GM3VTY.
The Tenacious in Peel Harbour, she is owned and run by the Jubilee Sailing Trust and helps disabled people experiance sailing.
A View of Peel Castle from the nice sandy beach.
John Martin (GD4RAG) ad Dave laying out the antenna mast ready before raising it into position upon Peel Castle (54º 13' 36.50'' N by 4º 41' 55.52'' W, Locator IO74PF).
Holding station whilst we all shot off down the ice cream shop, he wasn't happy, hi hi...
Up and guyed off, just a bit of minor tweeking to get her perfect.
The dipole now at the top of the mast and the ribbon feeder run down the side of the Castle to the Lifeboat Station.
Dave and John (GD4RAG) pulling out the elements and tieing them off.
The View of Tenacious from the top of Peel Castle.
John (GD4RAG) making final checks whilst we all look on.
Well you have to nowadays...
John (GD4RAG) and Dave connecting the ribbon feeder to a 4:1 balun so that we can get a line to the shack.
John (GD4RAG) trying to get a signal report.
John Parslow (GD4UHB) calls in to say hello.
John Parslow (GD4UHB) looking on as John Martin manages to find the only net available on 80 meters.
The Tenacious moored at the end of the Peel Breakwater.
News from the Douglas Lifeboat station on Sunday May 10th 2009.
The day at RNLI Douglas started early for the hard workers, 6:30am and continued through until around 17:00 in the early evening.
During this time there were 125 contacts over the course of rhe day, including one from France! pretty good considering the propagation around at the moment. All operation was on 3.700 MHz , J3E, using a Kenwood TS-570 and running aprox 80/90 watts through an Inverted V 80mtr dipole which was fortuitously, running across the harbour itself, the day was enhanced with a launch of the lifeboat, albeit it was a practice, but real nevertheless!!! I am hoping to trace down a few photos and will post them soon if I find any, there was a lack of camera available for the day.
