US & Canada Warm Up For CQ WW With November Sweepstakes SSB Contest; W7WA Defends Title

By Jamie Dupree NS3T  radio-sport.net 
Posted November 16, 2009

After a big turnout earlier this month for the CW version of the ARRL November Sweepstakes, this weekend brings a rush of phone contesters to the bands, with hopes that the sun might squeeze out a few more sunspots to make conditions even more enjoyable.

Back on the air in 2009 will be defending SSB champ Dan Handa W7WA, who cranked out a narrow win last year over KP2TM.

"Yes I will be on," Handa told radio-sport.net, "but I don't look to repeat as the top scoring single operator."

"Last year I came out on top due to a number of unusual occurences not the least of which was WP3R did not participate," said Handa.

For years, WP3R - alias Rich Boyd KE3Q - was at the top of both the CW and SSB Sweepstakes from Puerto Rico, churning out extended winning streaks in both contests.

"I don't currently plan on being at WP3R this year for SS phone, though I do think about it," Boyd told radio-sport.net.

For now though, he's enjoying the role of little pistol, after going to WP3R ten straight years.

"Last weekend's SS CW was a case in point -- at 0130Z Sunday night I was out in the dark with a marginal flashlight trying to find the coaxes for the tribander and 40 and 80 dipoles and finally got the 40 to work adequately, and gave out some QSOs," Boyd said.

If you are looking to improve your score, Sweepstakes is certainly a contest that tests your strategy, and last year's winner says he has a simple playbook when it comes to this test.

"My strategy for operating Sweepstakes is to be on the highest band that is open, regardless whether it is the top or bottom of the solar cycle," said Handa W7WA.

"Last year many areas of the country were competitive and I think this year will be similar although southern areas may fare better due to improving conditions on 15 meters," he added.

In 2008, the conditions in several categories favored the West Coast, as Western Washington was home to both the "B" class winner and the Unlimited class, while the Multi-op winner was Team W6YI, which is aiming at a repeat double win CW and SSB.

"We had another great sweepstakes," said W6YI member Dan Craig N6MJ on 3830, adding "This was the best we have ever done" in the CW leg.

Last year, W6YI had the high score overall in the SSB test, outdistancing Team K5NA from South Texas.

N2IC On Track For Third Straight CW Win

There seems to be no catching Steve London now, as the N2IC knocked out 1,612 contacts for 257,920 points and strong lead in the 2009 ARRL November Sweepstakes CW contest.

"SS New Mexico was definitely a hot spot this year," London wrote on 3830. "Everywhere I went, the rate stayed high."

London has an advantage of just over 10,000 points on Kevin Stockton N5DX, who ran K5GO to 247,360.

"No way I could have caught N2IC," said Ralph "Gator" Bowen N5RZ, who finished with 220,800 from K5TR. "What a score - Congrats Steve!"

As for other category leaders, the low power lead is in the hands of WRTC 2010 contestant Marvin Bloomquist N5AW, who leads Matt Trott K7BG by 3500 points and 17 contacts.

Tor Clay N4OGW is just three QSO's behind K7BG in a race that will be settled by the log checkers.

Other claimed score leaders include Kirk Pengelly N0KK in QRP, the PVRC's Ty Stewart K3MM is on tops in Unlimited, and as mentioned above, Team W6YI has the Multi-op lead, looking to repeat their victory in 2008.

The 2009 ARRL November Sweepstakes begins at 2100 UTC on November 21and runs until 0300z on November 23.