CQ WW CW 2008 USA: K5ZD Tries For Another CQ WW Double Win; WRTC Spurs More Competition

By Jamie Dupree NS3T  radio-sport.net 
Posted November 18, 2008

After claiming the top Single Operator score from the US in this year's CQ WW SSB Contest, Randy Thompson K5ZD is the favorite to do the same in the CW version of this year's contest.

"I needed WRTC points as motivation for Phone, but not for CW," Thompson told radio-sport.net.

"I have to assume the high bands will be fleeting at best," Thompson said of his pre-contest strategy thoughts.

"That means 20 meters all day and the low bands at night. K1DG on his island in Maine has to be the guy to beat!"

"I'll do my part to keep him honest," said Doug Grant K1DG, who was unable to catch K5ZD in the US SSB race in October.

"I expect that K1LZ and LZ4AX operating at K3CR will also be in the hunt. There are probably others lurking out there as well," Grant added.

One of those 'others' is Ken Claerbout K4ZW, who will operate from the N3HBX contest station outside of Washington, D.C., where Rich DiDonna NN3W fashioned the top US Assisted score in the SSB test.

"NN3W posted some terrific numbers on 15 meters during the SSB weekend as compared to the guys up north," said Claerbout. "I'd love to be able to duplicate that."

Of course the start on the East Coast of the US is at 7pm local time, which for now means the opening battle on the low bands.

"The last two years 40 has been a bust at the start so it was 80 or lower for any sort of run. The other option is to start S&P in order to build up a big mult total," said Claerbout.

"I think WW CW is the premier contest of the year and it brings out the top competitors. I'm looking forward to it!"

With qualifying points on the line for the World Radiosport Team Championships, one should expect some big efforts West of the Mississippi River as well.

"It will be my first ever SOAB in WWCW this year from W6YI," says Dan Craig N6MJ, who operated at K3LR's multi for CQ WW SSB.

"I have done the contest as a multi op for the last 15 years, so it will be fun to try something a little different."

Also making the switch to Single Op will be Kevin Stockton N5DX, who will operate from his father's K5GO station, which is usually a multi-op for CQ WW CW.

"We plan to put up a wire beam to Europe for 80 meters, and add a reflector behind the current 160 meter vertical for a little more gain into Europe," said Stockton.

"Working lots of Europe on all bands will be key to putting in a good score. Last year we had success running Europe on 80 in the CQWW CW and hopefully that will happen again this year," he added.

In 2007, only one single op from outside the East Coast broke into the Top Ten box, and that was Steve London N2IC in New Mexico. That may change this year.