N6MJ Takes Big NAQP CW Lead, K5GO Claims Seven QSO lead in M/2; NAQP SSB Up Next

By Jamie Dupree NS3T, radio-sport.net 

Enjoying conditions more favorable to stations in the West of the US, WRTC veteran Dan Craig N6MJ ran up over 1200 contacts and surged into a large lead in the 2008 January NAQP CW Contest.

Operating at W6YI's station, Craig totaled 355,320 points, with 1269 contacts and 280 multipliers. That gave him a 48,000 point lead over Ken Keeler N6RO, who had a personal best 1,239 contacts.

Unlike January of 2007, when the top ten stations made only 30 contacts in all on 10 meters, this year featured a short opening from the West Coast to back East. Craig N6MJ took advantage of that with 86/24. N6RO had 49/20 on 10.

In other categories, the QRP event was a shootout between some of the top five-watt calls in the US and Canada, as Dale Martin KG5U holds a 3600 point lead over Al Sinopoli KC5R, with defending NAQP QRP champ Julius Fazekas N2WN not far back in third.

"My hat is off to KG5U and KC5R for the excellent scores," said Fazekas.

"It's interesting to look at the band/QSO variations between the QRP stations. Looks like Texas/Louisiana/Mississippi may be the place to be for domestic contests this year," Fazekas added.

"I'm betting they had better coverage of the northeast than I did, even the VE3s were tough!"

In the multi-op battle, it's a very tight race, right now in favor of Team K5GO. Stan Stockton's group in Arkansas netted 521,591 points, giving them a lead of 1800 points on the team of Ken Adams K5KA in Oklahoma.

The difference was just seven QSO's, as both groups reported getting 269 multipliers.

Not far back in third place was Steve London's group at N2IC.

While more scores trickle in, the focus now shifts to the NAQP SSB this weekend. There, the multi category title is wide open, as last year's winner K9NS will be active on the VHF bands.

"We will be doing the January VHF Contest," said K9NS organizer Frank Miller K9HMB.

Whether the number two multi team from last year steps up was still undecided in the days before the contest.

"I do not know what I will or will not be doing for NAQP," said George Fremin K5TR. But he made clear to radio-sport.net that if he gets his team together, it won't be to fool around.

"If I am entering a contest for the full time - it is a serious effort."

Over in the SSB single op category, the focus will first be on the West Coast and last year's top three of N6KT, N6MJ and K7RL from the Pacific Northwest.

For more on the rules of the NAQP, please visit the NCJ website.