This Event has concluded

Dave Brown, KC1AAA, has created another wonderful photo essay, this time of the Goat Island Activation, which can be found by CLICKING HERE

Event summary

Operations began at 10:00Q on August 16th. at the far end of the stone base of the light (see photo below). Our old Cushcraft vertical produced a “reach out and touch someone” signal that filled the logs on both days. We suspect this was a result of old baseboard hot water heater units cabled to the antenna and tossed over the railing to make a superb salt water ground plane. Sunday afternoon’s log is filled with European and Eastern European stations along with US stations from coast to coast. The action was on 20 meters and W1LY began calling on 14.265 and stayed there for the duration.

Goat Island

Goat Island’s name reflects the colonial use of the island as a goat pasture. Because of its strategic location, Goat Island was the site of a series of fortifications before, during, and after the American Revolution, culminating with the US Navy established the US Navy Torpedo Station in 1869. The island remained an undersea naval facility until the island was acquired by private interests in the 1960s. Today the island is a luxury destination with a hotel and condominiums. The island is recognized by US Islands, RI-003S, and Islands on the Air as part of the Rhode Island Group, NA-031.

Newport Harbor Light

Generations of sailors know this aid to navigation by its original Coast Guard Light List name, Goat Island Light. Sailing down the bay, its fixed green beacon marked the northern entrance to Newport Harbor. Construction of the Goat Island causeway limited the north entrance to small craft, but as the only remaining harbor light tower, it has been renamed Newport Harbor Light, USCG Light List 17850. The light is recognized by the International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend as US 0179.