The 4th edition of the Ferry Contest will soon be here. For those intending to participate please refer to the pages on our website which outline the rules and conduct of the event (Ferry Contest 2019).

Now is the time to dust off the handhelds, charge the batteries, read the rules, plan an approach and study the map. Alternatively you can just turn up on the day for a bit of fun playing radio and travelling our beautiful harbour. The Opal card has a $2.70 cap on Sundays with a slightly lesser charge for seniors.

Sydney Ferries have not published any alerts so the system should be fully operational. The latest information can be obtained from https://transportnsw.info/alerts#/ferry.

The weather forecast is currently predicting a temperature from 19-28 C, partly cloudy and with light winds. The chance of rain is 0%. Follow the forecasts at the bureau of meteorology. Being a reformed optimist I shall pack sunscreen, a hat and a rain jacket to cover all options. It can be quite warm on the day. A water bottle is recommended.

For those arriving before the official commencement of the contest at 10:00 am there is the opportunity to check in to the club station which will be operating on our Paddington Repeater (147.025 +600 91.5 Hz) to enter the draw for a fabulous prize. The club station will also make regular broadcasts throughout the day and be available for contacts on the advertised simplex channels.

In addition, to celebrate our centenary, the special event station with callsign VI2BV100 will be operating randomly throughout the day. A contact will add 20 points and earn a special event QSL card. Achieving 5 contacts, each from a different location, will add a “centenary” of points to your final score.

I will be present at Circular Quay between 8:30 and 10:00 and will be watching out for individuals with visible antennas as well as listening on the Paddington repeater. This is a good chance to say hello, ask any last minute questions and gather an additional eyeball contact at the start of the contest.

Rob Halliday – VK2XRH