Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race 2013 - Pre-Race Radio Check

Well The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race 2013 (S2H) is not to far away. One of my tasks before the race to make sure my station equipment and software are up and running, and also to see how "if" any new antenna I may have put up during the year is working for race frequencies.

So before the S2H race starts I make use of the opportunity of the "Pre-race Radio Checks". This is where any yacht competing must test / certify their HF equipment and to do this they must make contact with "Marine Rescue Newcastle" and be of a certain distance from Newcastle and record a satisfactory radio signal report.  These tests occur between 14-Dec-2013 and 22-Dec-2013 during 0800-1800 ADST and they attempt to test their HF Comms on both race frequencies 6516 khz and normally 4483 khz..

The only issue is with me being based up here in sunny Brisbane, these frequencies are not the best long distance ones for during the day and so it can be fairly frustrating. Never the less I'll continue to do what I started 7 years ago and that is attempt to broadcast the HF Comms of Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

My process during this phase is recording the audio from 6516 khz and then race through the days audio quickly looking for "voice" or other "interesting" activity. If any thing of interest then I yank the audio segment out and if needed put it through a little audio clean up and will post examples below as I find them.

If you have any comments you can reach me via twitter @OziDrifter

Sample Pre-Race Radio Check Recordings

2013-12-14 14:14 - Unknown

2013-12-15 15:31 - Duende
2013-12-15 16:16 - Deja Vu

2013-12-16 07:10 - TSA Management
2013-12-16 09:24 - Pretty Fly
2013-12-16 16:21 - Luna Sea

2013-12-17 10:13 - Mondo (possibly Dodo!)

2013-12-18 07:12 - Minerva
2013-12-18 07:23 - Wilparina
2013-12-18 07:33 - St Jude
2013-12-18 08:28 - Canute
2013-12-18 16:34 - Namadgi (Attempt 1)
2013-12-18 16:38 - Namadgi (Attempt 2)
2013-12-18 16:42 - Yacht Having Radio Issues
2013-12-18 16:47 - Nautical Circle
2013-12-18 16:59 - JBW

2013-12-20 16:44 - Ragamuffin 100

2013-12-21 08:35 - Beau Geste
2013-12-21 14:47 - Midnight Rambler
2013-12-21 16:19 - Titania of Cowes

All files available via My Public Dropbox Folder.