NOTE!! All QSL confirmations to the Electronic QSL Card Centre www.eqsl.cc. only please!

Ex-navy. Full licence since 1980. Was inactive for many years, but now semi-retired have more time on my hands.

I am located 28km from the capital of Lerwick on the far south west side of Shetland and just 300 metres from the Atlantic Ocean.

I enjoy working DX on most bands.

Working on my FT-950, MD-200A8X microphone, Acom 1010 amplifier & Palstar AT1KP ATU. I have a variety of antennas which includes a homebrew 132' (91' + 41') Carolina Windom orientated at 30/210 degrees - just 7 metres off the ground, an 80m inverted V antenna and a A99 vertical antenna that works extremely well for long distance DX on 17/15/12/10. Both the inverted V and the vertical antenna are 10m high.

I dare not erect antennas any higher due to the extremely high winds in Shetland which regularly attain gusts of force 12. Shetland holds the unofficial British record for wind speed, which in 1962 was recorded at 177 mph (285 km/h).

Other hobbies include trout & sea fishing.

Best 73

www.visitshetland.com

Storms on Shetland are severe. Strong winds may blow from any direction but gales from the west and south-west are dominant. December and January are the stormiest months, with 60% of the highest wind speeds recorded in these months between 1931 and 1994. Over this period, five storms were recorded at Lerwick in which gusts exceeded 90 knots (kph). Two of the most severe storms this century occurred in the early 1990’s. During the storm of 1/1/1992, at Lerwick the highest gust was 90 knots and the highest hourly mean wind speed was 66 knots. In the north of Shetland wind speeds were greater, with a gust of >150 mph recorded from a dial at Muckle Flugga lighthouse on the northern tip of Unst. Yet another unofficial UK record! Wind speeds at Lerwick during the storm of 17/1/1993 matched those of the Hogmanay 1992 storm. This was a very stormy month, with gales on 25 days.

Our puffins are great characters that nest on Shetland each year

The view we enjoy from our QTH