WWFF Batemans Marine Park VKFF-1406

After stopping at Batemans Bay for the long weekend had the Monday off, so before driving back home made one last activation of Batemans Marine Park, as only needing 4 contacts to finish the 44 needed for a WWFF point.

As Caseys Beach was noisy RF wise, picked another spot close enough to the Marine Park to operate from, Surf Beach, a bit further South of Batemans Bay. There is a park and lawn area here close to the beach, so set up the squid pole on a fence post, with the radio at the base of the post.

FT-857D radio on the picnic blanket from the car. A bit more comfortable than the tarp.

Got on 40 m.As a week day for other states fairly quiet. VK2JNG Gerard was in a park but unable to hear him, no NVIS short skip. Spotted myself and got a steady run of callers, most with good strong signals.

VK3YSA/p Anthony
VK7JON Jonathon
VK5PAS Paul
VK3GGG/VK3PMG Mick
VK3ANL Nick
VK3PAT Chris
VK7FRJG Rod
VK5FANA Adrian
VK2VW Brett
ZL1TM Andrei
VK2ZVG Steven

As had more than enough contacts to finish the park, packed up and headed back home to Canberra.

WWFF Batemans Marine Park VKFF-1406

With a public holiday Monday in Canberra headed down to Batemans Bay for a long weekend. After stopping overnight at Batemans Bay headed South East along the bay to Caseys Beach. There were picnic tables here and a convenient fence just near the beach, to be within 100 m of the high tide mark for a marine park activation. Set up the squid pole on a fence post, dipole legs running along the fence.

FT857D radio on a nearby picnic table.

Got on 40 m. Disappointingly about S8 of noise on the band from nearby power lines.

Started with park to park contacts with Helen VK7FOLK/p and Jonathon VK7Jon/p in VKFF-1836 Trowutta Caves State Reserve. Luckily both good S9 and over the noise.

Then usual park hunters. VK3GGG-VK3PMG, VK5FANA, VK2VW, VK4SYD, VK4NH-VK4DXA -ZL4TY/VK4, VK3PF.

Another park to park with VK3ZPF/p Peter in VKFF-2109 Hurdy Gurdy Creek Nature Conservation Reserve

Worked VK3ZZS/7, then VK3YE/p Peter as usual portable Chelsea Beach, testing low power using an FT817 running from 8 x NiMH AA batteries. Managed to copy him using only 3w despite my high noise level. I'm briefly heard on his YouTube video

Went on to work VK3FLCS, VK4SMA, VK2ZVG, VK3ZMD and VK4TJ-AC8WB/VK4-VE6XT/VK4.

As getting cold in the shade gave it away and packed up. Made 21 contacts, so with my last activation of the park now only need 4 to complete the 44 for a WWFF point.

WWFF Batemans Marine Park VKFF-1406

For the June Queens Birthday long weekend decided to escape the Canberra cold and head down to the NSW South Coast, stopping at Batemans Bay. Decided to activate a WWFF park that has not been activated before, Batemans Marine Park VKFF-1406.

Batemans Marine Park extends from the most northerly point of Murramarang Beach near Bawley Point to the southern side of Wallaga Lake entrance at Murunna Point, covering parts of the coast, lakes, rivers, lagoons and estuaries, the Tollgate Islands off Batemans Bay and Montague Island.

Map of the protected areas from Protected Planet website.

For an access point to the park I went to Guerilla Bay, turning off Burri Point Rd onto Beach Parade, then taking Bay St down to the beach. Map also from Protected Planet.

At the end of Bay St is a very small car park for the beach and a sign for the park. The headland across the bay is Burrewarra Point.

In the grassy area to the right of the sign was a picnic table that I used for the activation. Sorry forgot to take photos of my setup this time...

This was the weekend of the Shires contest, so stations were giving their shires out in reports. I was in Eurobodalla Shire here, ES2.

Started on 40m with S2S contacts with VK3XV/p Tony in VKFF-0739 Barmah National Park and VK3ZPF/p Peter in VKFF-0774 Warrandyte State Park.

Peter offered to let me use his frequency as he had the required number of contacts, and spotted me on ParksnPeaks.

Went on to work VK4TJ, VK4RF/HA, another S2S with VK2YK Adam in VKFF-0606 Sea Acres National Park, VK3PF, VK3GGG/VK3PMG.

Worked Paul VK5PAS/p and Marija VK5FMAZ/p in VKFF-0296 Lower Glenelg National Park with good signals.

Went on to work VK2IO/p, VK4AAC/2, VK3ARH, VK2KYO and VK4SMA. Another S2S with Stef VK5HSX/2 in VKFF-0410 Paroo-Darling National Park.

Worked Bill ZL2AYZ with a good signal, fairly easy to get New Zealand here on the South Coast.

Finished with VK2LEE and VK3KMH. A total of 19 contacts, so need to return to this park for the 44 for WWFF.