Lighthouse Weekend
GB4HCL

International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend

HURST POINT Position 50 42'. 44 N 01 32'.94 W

August 2008

It looks like we will not be holding the Amateur Radio event at Hurst Castle this year. Due to personal commitments I just don't think I am going to have time to organise it. Maybe we'll try again next year. The other lighthouses should be 'on the air' though. - B

The event is held on the 3rd full weekend in August starting at 0001 UTC on Saturday and finishing at 2359 UTC on Sunday

Last year we operated Amateur Radio on various bands as part of the International Lighthouse and Lightship weekend at Hurst Castle on the South Coast of the United Kingdom. Hurst Castle is adjacent to the operational light house (ENG-057) at Hurst Point.

The event was operated in shifts with some people arriving on the Friday to set up the radios, and leaving on Saturday, and some people arriving on Saturday and operating until Sunday midday.

We mostly operated on the HF 20 Metre band where the majority of contacts were made. Some contacts were made using 2M FM, Notably the Needles Lighthouse. We could have used semaphore for that one as we can see the Needles clearly from the castle.

We were visited by Matt from the Association of Lighthouse Keepers who was interested in the cross promotion of the ILLW and Lighthouse day events. He gave us some lighthouses to look out for but from the list weonly heard the Portland Bill lighthouse GB4PBL, but could not contact them which was a shame.

We would like to thank the staff at Hurst Castle for their help and assistance with this event.