ILLW 2003 Farallons Island On the air 0700 utc Aug 17 to 2000 utc

Musings from the Farallons:

The Farallon islands are located 26 miles west of the Golden Gate in an area of typically powerful weather conditions with no shelter from the systems that prowl the Bearing sea and North East Pacific this time of the year. They are a rocky outcropping whose chief inhabitants wear thick blubber for protection or a deep coat of feathers coated against the persistent low clouds and drizzle that cling to this tiny island.

The SE Farallon is protected and people are not allowed on the island without permission. Normally this is reserved for scientists studying the bird, seal, and great white populations.

The intrepid crew of Redsky, with a goal to place these islands on the air, were expecting a better than normal set of conditions for this amateur radio expedition. Redsky set sail at 1700 pdt in clear skies from Richmond, Ca. and crossed SF Bay in light to moderate conditions with a favorable tide pushing out to sea. Winds built in typical fashion near the Golden Gate and then ebbed once outside. The waves on the ocean, at 7 feet, were a bit steep as they were amplified by the tide fighting the wind.

The wind and waves worked in tandem to both chill the participants and agitate the sensitive stomach linings that were recently filled with taco salads and burgers from the mainland. Some consumed medications in an effort to prevent the onset of la mal de mer. The motion of the NW swell crossed with the light SW swell and then coupled to a heeling sail boat took its toll as participants began to disappear below even prior to sunset. All however would make occasional forays to the topsides to place personal contributions on the 55 degree Neptunian surface. After several hours the light of the Farallons appeared in the haze and darkness. Only the pilot remained on deck in the last few hours of approach at an angle of 240 degrees with 15 knots wind from the NW. Within a mile of the island one other came on deck and assisted with locating the mooring buoy and handling the boat while the pilot crawled to the foredeck to make the connection. At last, 1:20 am and Redsky were on station. Everyone collapsed below for much needed rest.

By 3:30 am the winds were briskly closing on the anchorage and the occasional swell would bend from the north hooking into the cove. The rigging and buoy were checked periodically to make sure the loud noises aloft were just rigging slapping the deck or mast and that the 30 knot gusts had not separated Redsky from the buoy. At sunrise the crew began to stir. The radio was checked and all seemed in order.

A discussion ensued regarding the willingness of one and all to sit below deck and operate under the influence of the stomach wrenching swell. It was decided that no significant amount of time should be spent in these conditions and a run for home in the 20 knot breeze was in order. One very lucky station, K2VOA was contacted from the Farallons light. Mission accomplished ! and a big advantage to this operation is the reduced number of QSL cards that will have to be managed ! Congrats to the survivors, some of whom requested burial at sea.

Operators:

NE6D Ernie

AE6HO Jonathan

N6IZ Brian

Station:

Located aboard sailing vessel Redsky.

Icom 706, SGC tuner, 23 ft marine veritical, and a great ground plane, the Pacific Ocean.