HOMING IN
“I am in awe!” That’s how Charles Scharlau, NZØI, summarized the 19th annual Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) Championships of the USA near Raleigh, North Carolina. “Eight days of activities provided practices and championships in all events, with some separate youth courses. The banquet food was delicious and plentiful. Accommodations were comfortable and centrally located. It was a wonderful spectacle and I am happy to have been there,” he continued.
Long-time orienteer and new ham operator Joseph Burkhead, KE8MKR, was equally enthusiastic, saying, “it was a great event for me and the whole family. The races were definitely of championship caliber. Umstead Park presented excellent, runnable woods, (with) lots of reflections on 2 meters and even some shadows from the terrain, as well as blissful orienteering decision points.”
KE8MKR added, “the organizers were very accommodating to our family so we could all participate, including our children. The website was great for bulletins and prompt posting of results. There was loaner RDF equipment available, which was hugely helpful to beginners such as my wife. The registration process was excellent and it was great to have an updated list of who was coming. And the events were executed smoothly with only a few minor hiccups — as good as anyone should expect. They even made sure that it only rained after the runs were done!”
These praiseworthy organizers were led by the husband-wife team of
