As well as SOTA and M/C activities I sometimes get the chance to go sailing.
I was asked to crew on a boat delivery from Granton on the Firth of Forth down to Berwick, just into England.
I’ve previously chased on 2m from the Forth with a handheld and flowerpot antenna on day sails, this time I asked the skipper if it was ok to bring the FT818 and an HF antenna and he said fine to try. I managed to fit a chasing session in between my turns on watch.
We set off motoring down the Forth dodging some fog banks initially. I had a few chats on the handheld with @MM0RTO and @MM0UHR via the GB3ED repeater and also 2m simplex.
Once we cleared the fog it was a lovely afternoon as we passed the Herwit rock and Narrow Deep marker bouys.
After a spell on the wheel, I set up the SPX100 antenna on the roof of the aft cabin and set up for HF. I draped the counterpoise wires along the side decks but also got out the nanoVNA to check the tuning. I was prepared to try using the guardrails and /or dropping one wire into the water but in the end the VNA just had me lengthen the whip a few inches to tune it for the FT818.
I tuned around for a while and couldn’t find a space on 40m to operate, then I saw a spot for @HA5MIG on HA/EM-020 on 20m. I tuned up the antenna and heard him 5/8. I replied to his call and he initially only heard the mobile at the end then we completed the QSO with him giving me a 4/2 report for /Maritime Mobile. I was very pleased with a contact over 1800 km with 5w from sea level.
Unfortunately I didn’t manage any more QSO’s and had to stow the gear away to clear the tiller and side decks for night sailing.
Sunset as we passed Berwick law was bonny.
It always takes me a day or so to get my sea legs on passage so I stayed on watch until we anchored at midnight off Coldingham bay to wait for the right tide to go into Berwick. The sky was really clear and the stars and Milky way were beautiful. I also saw a lot of satellite passes and a couple of shooting stars.
Next morning Alan MM0VPM was in touch and came down to the beach at Coldingham to walk his dogs. We had a chat on 2m and 70cm but we could have done it waving flags since we were anchored about 400 yards off the beach .
We had a leisurely breakfast and then headed down to Berwick for the high tide.
I didn’t get another chance to setup for HF but put out a few calls from the handheld without success, whilst on watch for lobster pot bouys from the deck.
We got Capella safely tied up and cleaned up for tea and a “light refreshment”.
Thanks to crewmates Brian and Iain and Skipper John for a great trip.
The boat will be heading North again in the Spring and round to the West coast in the Summer, hopefully I’ll get a chance for some more /MM chasing activities then.
Andy
MM7MOX/MM