Let’s start with a question.   Where did all the non-island stations go?  There was not a single log submitted for 2011 in the Non-Island Class.  It only takes a few minutes to submit via email or a single stamp for a snail mail log.  The ‘ol Contest Manager kept checking the big black box at the street, but never saw a single log and the email server was barren of Non Island logs.. 

        It appears there was an increase in participation among the island activators in 2011’s running of the QSO Party.  There were lots of family and friend style outings down next to the water.  Three new islands were qualified during the party, or just prior to it.

        In a two station race in Class A, or high power/resident island class, AD5WB took another top spot with K0JCC helping out on the radios.  AD5WB made so much rf in Galveston that the lights on the rest of the island were dimming towards the end of the QSO Party.

        Coming up right behind was a multi-op of W7GD, KN7T, WA7JT operating at Joe’s on Camano Island in Washington.  Joe said this is a fun and relaxing time for them to operate and enjoy some good times.

        In the low power category, the highest score was by the W5B multi-op which was battling high winds to only get one island on for the QSO Party.  David and the group with W5B operating under the auspices of the Tri-county Amateur Radio Club, WC5C, took first place with a Saturday-only effort from a newly qualified island, TX063S, Bolivar Island.

        QST regular columnist Ward Silver, piloted W0AX to second place  with a mixed CW and Phone operation  from Ellis Island….no, not that one, but the one in Missouri in the Mississippi River.  At least he didn’t have to contend with cold, wet, hungry deer hunters like last year when he found his first choice of an island taken over by those with lots of heavy archery weapons. 

        Bob, VE7RSV operated portable on Broughton Island in the wilds of BC.

        A large gathering met on WI048R, Crawford Island, for fun times and to qualify a new island during the contest.  The group of ops got this one in the books with a mixed-mode operation.  Operators were, (take a deeeeep breath)   W9MZ, KC9MRV, KC9KOO, KC9KOP, KB9TPG, KC9NHQ, KC9LBO, W9JR, KC9UJM, KC9TBE, and KC9 OJY.  I hope they brought enough food.

        W9UUM was the call from Goose island, also located in Wisconsin.

        Graham, VE3GTC, just found out about the QSO Party as he left for a portable operation on ON271, Iriquois Island .  He logged four island stations for a total of 80-points.  Graham, you’re welcome back in 2012 for a full entry!

        The rover class saw only two entries.  One from the ‘ol Contest Manager and one from the USi Webmaster and Fearless Leader, Jay, NS4J.  Jay paddled (actually I walked and waded  WM') out to a couple of VA islands and managed almost 90 QSOs as the weather began to get worse.

        The CM took the high road in a Cherokee with air conditioning, plenty of Diet Cokes and some north Alabama BBQ to put out a couple of northern AL islands including one I happened to see on the GPS as I drove by in Scottsboro.  Just as dark approached, AL037R  was qualified, Goose Pond Island.  Saturday afternoon was a great time to set up on a breezy hill on Priest Lake just southeast of the Nashville Airport  at the Fate Sanders Marina Island.  Good DX kept me from falling asleep in the excellent weather.

        “Yukon” John, KL7JR, is living in the Dominican Republic now and entered HI3/KL7JR for the only DX entry.  John is one of the first proponents of the US Island program, and he is still very active with USI.

        There was no SWL entry, which isn’t unusual.

        But the lack of Class D, or non-island entries is a concern for the CM. 

        Also a bunch of Canadian and US islands were seen in logs, but no one sent in a log this year.

        Another oddity, was a lack of logs from Hawaii.  Also, where is the Florida Contest Group?  No Florida logs this year, either!

        There has been discussion about moving the QSO Party time slot again.  In reality, there isn’t a way to guarantee FB WX from Guam to Puerto Rico and to Sable Island.  Some places you’ll get blown out of the contest, rained out, frozen out or scorched.  Such is a normal weekend in two thirds of the northern hemisphere.

        I can only hope the 2012 entrants will see WX like I had during my rover run for the past two years.  Incredible, “Chamber of Commerce” weather, and beautiful come to mind.  Not too hot, not to chilly, just a little breeze and lots of sunshine.  Make some rf, or snooze into the hammock?  Decisions, Decisions….And you know which one I’ll make!

        See you in the 2012 running of the W / VE Islands QSO Party on October 20 and 21.

John Almon, WA4JA
USi Contest Manager