O GPDX- Grupo Português de DX activou a Ilha do Pessegueiro no passado dias 25/26 de Julho 2020.
Esta ilha pelo facto de se encontrar em pleno Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano/Costa Vicentina carece duma autorização especial (trata-se duma ilha com reserva integral) por parte do ICNF (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas) bem assim como da Autoridade Marítima local , a Capitania de Sines, para acesso e pernoita. O processo é moroso mas no nosso caso foi bem conduzido e despachado favoravelmente com muita rapidez.
O transporte, elemento sempre crucial, é feito em rigoroso exclusivo pela embarcação 'Novo Horizonte' propriedade do Sr. Joaquim Matias , único barco autorizado a desembarcar no cais flutuante privativo existente na ilha.
Considerando o comprimento das antenas de que dispúnhamos, não as ideais como viemos a constatar, uma TH2, vertical 12 AVQ, Yagi 4 elementos CT1FFU e um dipolo para os 40 metros, fomos obrigados a alugar uma carrinha de chassis longo que onerou a expedição.
Chegámos a Porto Covo no dia 25 pelas 07:00 horas e cerca das 09:00 horas estávamos a desembarcar na ilha dando-se início ao dificílimo processo de transporte do material para o Forte de Santo Alberto , local onde montamos a estação e as antenas. É o local mais alto da ilha com uma vista absolutamente excepcional em todas as direcções, aliás conforme se verificou depois pelos contactos na banda dos 6 metros!
Depois duma maratona no transporte do material + montagem da estação , com muito cansaço sob um sol bastante quente e , felizmente, uma brisa agradável, fizemos o primeiro QSO cerca das 11:00 horas lutando contra uma propagação muito má , com aberturas (fracas) nos 20 metros (as restantes bandas diurnas completamente mortas) e as habituais aberturas esporádicas nos 6 metros. O elevado nivel de swr na TH2 colocou-a desde logo fora de combate , não obstante os esforços do CT1FPA e do CT1EGW para a ressuscitar. A vertical também apresentava valores erráticos pelo que a nossa bóia de salvação eram os 6 metros!
Panorama caraterístico do final do ciclo solar - para além dos problemas de hardware .
Operámos até cerca das 21 horas , altura em que recolhemos ás tendas devido ao forte vento (Nortada) que se fazia sentir . Os 50 MHz FT8 portaram-se muito bem sendo de realçar a pouco expectável performance da antenazita de 6 metros (4 elementos num short boom).
A noite passou-se sem história, sendo que alguns de nós aproveitaram para por o sono em dia (CT1EEQ hi hi).
Fomos visitados por grupos de turistas que fazem visita guiada à ilha pelo Sr. Matias (são as unicas pessoas que estão autorizadas a por pé na ilha!)
Viagem de regresso já com mar para o grosso e chegada a Porto Covo cerca das 13:30 horas, almoço e regresso!
De resto correu tudo num ambiente de grande confraternização e camaradagem de quem se conhece já há longos anos, com comida e bebida e...longe do COVID-19!! Tudo na máxima segurança e respeito ambiental.
Até breve!
73 GPDX-Grupo Português de DX
GPDX- Portuguese DX Group activated the Island of Pessegueiro in the past 25/26 of July 2020.
This island, which is located in the Southwest Alentejo/Costa Vicentina Natural Park, requires special authorization (it is an island with a full reserve) from the ICNF (Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests) as well as from the local Maritime Authority, the Sines Captania, for access and overnight stay. The process is lengthy but in our case it was very well conducted and dispatched favorably with great speed.
The transport, always crucial element, is done in strict exclusivity by the vessel 'Novo Horizonte' owned by Mr. Joaquim Matias , the only boat authorized to disembark in the private floating dock existing in the island.
Considering the length of the antennas we had, not the ideals as we saw, a TH2, vertical 12 AVQ, Yagi 4 elements CT1FFU and a dipole for the 40 meters, we were forced to rent a long chassis van that charged the expedition.
We arrived in Porto Covo on the 25th at 07:00 and around 09:00 we were disembarking on the island, starting the very difficult process of transporting the material to Santo Alberto Fort, where we set up the station and the antennas. It is the highest place on the island with an absolutely exceptional view in all directions, as it was later verified by the contacts in the 6 meters band!
After a marathon in the transport of the material + assembly of the station, with a lot of fatigue under a very hot sun and, fortunately, a pleasant breeze, we made the first QSO about 11:00 fighting against a very bad propagation, with (weak) openings in the 20 meters (the other diurnal bands completely dead) and the usual openings expected in the 6 meters. The high level of swr in TH2 put her out of combat from the start, despite the efforts of CT1FPA and CT1EGW to resuscitate her. The vertical was also erratic so our lifebuoy was 6 meters!
Characteristic overview of the end of the solar cycle - besides the hardware problems.
We operated until about 9pm, when we decided to go to the tents due to the strong wind (Nortada) that was felt. The 50 MHz FT8 behaved very well and the performance of the 6 meter antennas (4 elements in a short boom) was not expected.Very well CT1FFU!
The night went by without a story, and some of us took the opportunity to catch up on sleep (CT1EEQ hi).
The next day, 26/7, we got up early and took advantage of the sunrise in 40 meters, although not responding to the countless requests for contact made the week before by the OMs in California where the EU-167 is quite rare. The 6 meters opened for the North of Europe around 11 o'clock, already very close to the closing time of the station as the boat would come for us around 1 o'clock.
We were visited by groups of tourists who make a guided visit to the island by Mr. Matias (they are the only people who are allowed to walk on the island!)
Return trip already with high seas and arrival to Porto Covo around 13:30 hours, lunch and return!
Making a balance: antennas - it is necessary to review completely because the investment in time and money of an expedition, although small, cannot be confronted with old and heavy antennas. Shelter/shack - foresee a tent, even if simple, with enough right foot for shelter, because in summer Nortada is very strong and prevented us from operating at night. Dates - it is mandatory to arrive on Friday. Doing everything on Saturday is tiring given the orography of the island and the temperature.
Everything else took place in an atmosphere of great fraternization and camaraderie of those who have known each other for many years, with food and drink and...far from COVID-19!
See you soon!
73 GPDX-Portuguese DX Group
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
