A warmer-than-anticipated day made for a good turnout and excellent radio-orienteering at Lake Los Carneros, just west of Santa Barbara, on January 6, 2007. It was good to see some newcomers trying the sport for the first time, with lots of expert help.
Since the full ARDF course was relatively short, there were only two beginner transmitters --- just enough to give some practice to the first-timers and warm-up for the others.
To nobody's surprise, the best time on the full course was turned in by Jay Hennigan WB6RDV, who has medaled at the USA ARDF Championships and finished 16th on two meters in the World Championships last September. Jay made a trip around the lake to bag four of the five foxes in 37:20. Unfortunately, due to a command error (oops!), the fox #5 had been accidentally silenced when he got close to it. So Jay headed for the finish and then decided to go out again to find it when it was restored. He was given a fresh start coincident with #1 going on, as all others were. He got #5 and returned in 4:57, which means that he found it and was back at the finish before it cycled off!
Results of the two-meter five-fox ARDF course:
Name and call Foxes Time
Jay Hennigan WB6RDV 5 0:42:17 total for two runs
Scott Moore KF6IKO 5 1:00:01
Bill Smathers KG6HXX 5 1:07:16
Terry Newman AE6JR 5 1:14:40
Steve Ostrander K6OST 4 2:03:28 with Tyler and Diane
Alex Das KI6FDO 3 2:02:14 with Darryl Widman KF6DI
Tony Cirineo KD6DUV 3 2:15:38
Travis Wood AE6GA ? ? with Garrick
One 80-meter fox was available and four participants found it, with these elapsed times:
Scott Moore KF6IKO 0:13:45
Jay Hennigan WB6RDV 0:15:28
Bill Smathers KG6HXX 0:16:33
Terry Newman AE6JR 0:44:52
Thanks to Marvin Johnston KE6HTS for organizing this event and updating the map. Also thanks to April Moell WA6OPS for performing her usual fox-wrangling, timing, PR and medical duties.
Photos are at www.homingin.com
The next event will be announced soon.
Joe Moell K0OV