Hello Bob

Hope you are well and had fun in CC 2025.

Deliberately a part-time entry here – owing to the geographical position of VK/ZL in relation to the main activity centres of the UK and Canada, I’ve finally accepted that operating for more 12-hours from here is silly at my age unless you are really serious about the contest, as 20 per cent, or less, of the QSOs regularly occur in the second 12-hours.

This has been the situation for 24-hour operating in the CC from VK for many years – and potentially for most of those who operate across the Commonwealth Contest. After the first 12-hours, even in good conditions, it is obvious from this vantage point that contest activity slowly dies off after this point. Perhaps many contestants being on the far side of 60 is also a factor (certainly is with me). 😉

The recent review by the RSGB has offered some impressive tweaks to the scoring. But something still needs to be done to put life back into the second half of the contest – which may increase its attraction to younger contesters, who are needed to swell the ranks of us old and tired die-hards.

Why not change rules 8(a) and 8(b) so every station worked in the second 12-hour period of the contest counts double points. All of a sudden there is a great incentive to stay on for the full 24-hours!

Coming back to 2025, I ended up operating for roughly seven hours and had great fun in working old friends and acquaintances from the UK and Canada, despite the clearly disturbed radio conditions which caused polar-type flutter on most signals.  Final score was 4,485 points.

Also, it was great to work some of the CC travelers and those operating from Africa, who always give this event extra spice. Thanks to the HQ stations and all those who assist behind the scenes. Bless you all.

Vy 73

Steve, VK6VZ