>>> 🐧NEW ONE WBA 2026 🐧 <<< 165DA/CMSB04 – CMSB04 – THE BALCONY OVER PORTIXEDDU (by 165DA101 Alex)/ 2 PTS (H)/4 PTS (A) / DATE: 14/06/2026 start @ 10.00 UTC / Freq. stay tuned on WhatsApp WBA news / PROVINCE 119 ( Sulcis Iglesiente )/  Historical Region HR01 ( Sulcis Iglesiente ) / Municipality B250 ( Buggerru ) 

ANT: 3 EL. SKYPPER / PW 270W / Pts(A):2POTA+1N.One=3

📜 OFFICIAL PORTABLE ACTIVATION REPORT: 165DA/CMSB04 🏔️🚗

Chapter four is officially in the logbook, another splendid reference conquered! 🎬

I have truly thrown myself into this exciting and brand-new adventure of bringing you portable field activations, carefully selecting the most strategic and scenic spots along the 30 stages of the Santa Barbara Mining Trail (CMSB). On Sunday, June 14, 2026, we wrote the fourth page of this challenge together, bringing the portable station 165DA101/P to one of the most spectacular settings on the entire Sardinian coast!

🧗 Field Chronicles: A Natural Balcony, Sun, and Sandwiches in Good Company ☀️🥪

For this fourth stage, I chose one of the most panoramic and elevated points of the trail, positioning ourselves at 326 meters above sea level. We stopped in a wide open area characterized by a breathtaking 360-degree view, suspended between the sky and the infinite blue of the sea overlooking the entire Gulf of Portixeddu.

To ensure maximum safety and leave the path completely free, I parked the legendary white Fiat Panda 169 4×4 on the far right side of the clearing. This time I wasn’t alone: my wife accompanied me on this adventure! The day turned out to be very hot right from the start, with a scorching summer sun that gave no respite on the plateau; for this reason, our very first operation was to set up a sunshade/umbrella to protect ourselves, even before completing the technical setup of the radio station and deploying our trusty Skypper antenna to the wind.

At a certain point of the day, we decided to unplug the headphones to enjoy a well-deserved lunch break in the open air, preparing two excellent, regenerating sandwiches. Right during the break, we were joined by two drone operators who had climbed up here to take some splendid aerial footage of some pilgrims walking the mining trail. In general, not many hikers passed by during the whole day: the intense mid-June heat, in fact, makes traveling during the central hours unadvisable. But the silence of the plateau, interrupted only by our voices and the radio static, made everything even more magical.

📊 Log Analysis: The Propagation Case and the Numbers of the Day 🌍📉

From a propagation standpoint, it was a truly peculiar and unusual day—not exactly exceptional in terms of stability, but capable of giving us extraordinary twists. We officially closed the activation with a solid 107 QSOs in the log!

Here is how the ether behaved, analyzing the data from the file CMSB4 165DA101 LIVE 1.5 - LOG.csv:

• The Great Absentee: European Short-Skip 🇪🇺 Unfortunately, classic short-skip from central and northern Europe was almost non-existent. The only exception was the Iberian Peninsula, which came through with strong, direct signals, securing 14 QSOs with Spain (30 Division) – led by historic stations like 30DA10 Sergio, 30DA201 Pepe, and 30DA202 Javier – and 4 QSOs with Portugal (31 Division) with our friend 31AT183 Nuno.
• The Magic of Backscatter 🔄 All other European contacts occurred under backscatter (back-diffusion) conditions, a sign of a bizarre ionosphere. Despite this, the consistency and sensitivity of the Skypper allowed us to score great numbers: 20 QSOs with France (14 Division), 15 with England (26 Division), 11 with Italy (1 Division), 8 with Germany (13 Division), and 7 with Ireland (29 Division). Hunters from Scotland, Denmark, Poland, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Norway, and Sweden also ended up in the log, along with a local contact with Sardinia.
• Great DX Across the Ocean: USA Doublet in June! 🇺🇸 The real, massive surprise of the day came from the long-range path. Although the month of June is usually stingy with stable openings toward North America on this band, the rocky spur at 326 msl worked a miracle: we logged two stations from the United States (2 Division)! Huge excitement for the QSOs with 2TB131 Bob at 11:26 UTC and 2OP95 John at 13:04 UTC, both entering the log with excellent signal reports!
• Other International Gems 🏝️🌏 The log was enriched by two other crazy intercontinental contacts: a magnificent QSO with exotic Thailand (153 Division) thanks to 153DA102 Lars at 12:47 UTC, and a splendid contact with the islands of Cape Verde (205 Division) achieved with 205AT48 Paolo at 11:23 UTC!

🏁 Conclusion and Radio Amateur Greetings 🏆🤝

Bringing home 107 QSOs on a day with such unstable propagation and scorching heat is proof that the CMSB 11m On The Trail Challenge and the WBA award can passionately unite hunters from all over the planet, from the coasts of Galicia to the skyscrapers of New York and the beaches of Thailand! A special thank you goes to my wife for her support and patience under the umbrella, and to the two drone operators for the pleasant company at high altitude.

The log is ready and already uploaded to our centralized platform for your real-time verifications:

👉 CHECK YOUR QSO ON THE OFFICIAL LIVE LOG HERE

We are striking camp, folding the Skypper, and restarting the Panda 4×4. Giacomino the penguin (who preferred the shade of the cabin today!) and I look forward to seeing you at the next unmissable stage! 🎒 Antennas ready and fingers on the key!

Best 73’s & 51 de 165DA101 Alex / Portable 4×4! Good DX to everyone! 📻🙏 👋 QRZ… and see you on the next adventure!

🥾 165DA/CMSB04: The Balcony Over Portixeddu! 11 Meters in 4×4 from Gutturu Cardaxius Plateau 🌊📡

The epic radio-trekking journey along the historic mining paths of Sardinia is picking up speed! Following our massive success on the cliffs of Planu Sartu with a roaring 162 QSOs in the logbook, the CMSB 11m On The Trail Challenge heads toward breathtaking landscapes of pine forests, golden dunes, and endless sea: it’s time for official reference 165DA/CMSB04! 🎒

This coming Sunday, operator 165DA101 Alex and his trusty plush penguin mascot Giacomino are firing up the engine of their reliable white Fiat Panda 169 4×4, ready to climb the wild ridges connecting Buggerru to Portixeddu! 🚗💨

📅 ACTIVATION DETAILS

• Official Reference: 165DA/CMSB04
• Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026
• Start Time: 10:00 UTC (12:00 CEST local time)
• Band: 11 Meters (SSB)
• Setup: Portable Activation with Panda 169 4×4 mobile base & Skypper Antenna 🔋

📍 THE CONTEXT: From Buggerru to Portixeddu

Stage 04 of the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara is a thrilling 9.1 km route. Leaving the old mining town of Buggerru behind, the trail goes up the striking gorge of Gutturu Cardaxius, a deep limestone canyon hosting the ruins of the historic San Tomaso and Nanni mines.

From there, the path climbs towards the high plateau through dense holm oak woods and the stunning San Nicolò pine forest, before descending toward the mouth of the Rio Mannu and the magnificent beach of Portixeddu, famous for its massive sand dunes shaped by the mistral wind.

🎙️ THE PORTABLE DEPLOYMENT: High Over the Gulf

For this fourth field day, Alex and Giacomino have selected a highly strategic and scenic radio position, located at the exact geographical coordinates: 39.4087, 8.42039.

• The Location: A spectacular natural balcony perched high on the ridges, offering a jaw-dropping 360-degree view dominating the entire gulf of Portixeddu, San Nicolò beach, and the infinite blue of the Sardinian Sea.
• Off-Road & Radio Logistics: The Panda 169 4×4 will utilize its off-road capabilities to reach this isolated panoramic spot, serving as our mobile operations base and housing the heavy battery system. Operating directly from this sheer rocky height will provide the Skypper Antenna with an exceptional ground plane and a perfect take-off angle over the water—ideal for boosting short-skip European signals and grabbing long-distance DX! Giacomino is already on the dashboard, ready to monitor the pile-up! 🐧🚗

🏆 WBA HUNTERS: Lock in Your Fourth Reference!

Every single logged stage is crucial for climbing the ranks of the World Beauties Award (WBA). Securing your contact today ensures you keep your perfect en-plein streak alive, driving you closer to the premium progressive multiplier bonuses at the end of this 30-stage journey! 🏅

🌐 REAL-TIME LIVE LOGS

No more guessing games! All contacts will be uploaded in real time straight from the field. Tune in, look for the portable station 165DA101/P, and instantly verify your QSO on the dedicated centralized platform:

👉 CLICK HERE FOR LIVE LOGS & CHALLENGE PROGRESS

The mistral winds of Portixeddu are ready to carry our airwaves. See you on the radio frequencies, hunters!

Best 73’s and good luck from Alex, Giacomino, and the 4×4 Panda crew! 🇦🇹🐧🎙️

Are you in the Log? Click below.

LOG

30DA10 Sergio 30DA201 Pepe 30DA202 Javier 14DA20 Pascal 14GT44 Pierrot 68AT121 Robert 31AT183 Nuno 161DA135 Sylvester 30AO10 Oscar 108AT46 Jim 47PL122 Arne 13SD114 Matt 108FB213 Brian 26AT95 David 30RC571 Maico 30AT213 Louis 26DX25 Paul 26AT80 Harry 108CT338 Kenny 26RC437 Derek 108AT176 Chris 26AT22 Ron 161DA15 Janusz 19LR1 Ger 47DX54 Leif 26AT169 Bill 26LT600 Tony 19AT161 Carlo 1AT1692 Willi 13AT715 Pete 13DA285 Tommy 47AT124 Palle 35DA35 Frank 13AT13 Steve 14LF22 Yan 14EK49 Bruno 26AT691 Eric 161SD174 Rafal 13EK101 Udolf 29AT38 Tim 19AT515 Ron 26DT1256 Martie 29AT104 Joe 14AT23 Jean Marc 1EK156 Mauro 13WM19 Wim 1AT227 Livio 30DA102 Jose 26AT33 Chris 14AT16 Bruno 26AT705 Ian 13IR121 Jürgen 35SSB79 Björn 14DA496 Marino 26AT561 Peter 26AT886 Barry 26TV1 Mick 31CS7 Carlo 14RC374 Jean Louis 14AT75 Georgette 14PCL1 Fred 14LG211 Lionel 26RR3 Gray 14AT350 Didier 14PAT1289 Mathieu 165AT448 Franco 205AT48 Paolo 2TB131 Bob 14RC127 Ludo 1AT127 Luciano 30LO3747 Jose 47DK101 Henning 68AT108 Richard 29FRG1 Luke 14AT824 Philippe 13OT1 Mario 14AT264 Pat 14AT145 Philippe 29WT211 Nick 16AT128 Stéphane 14AT259 Allan 1AT562 Antonio 30WM19 Miguel 29RC132 Tony 30DR1 David 30SIM50 Victor 30AT107 Alvaro 30AT118 Didier 31RC505 Mario 1TW25 Claudio 30EK72 Jaime 1RC118 Vittorio 1TW316 Luca 1AT535 Alessandro 153DA102 Lars 20LR117 Rune 1AT14 Vincenzo 29AT101 Mike 1DA6 Sergio 108DA147 Kenny 2OP95 John 29LR49 Michael 14A33 Eric 47AT818 Johnny 21DA101 Roger 31MARVE Antonio 14CI177 Olivier ———————————————————- 30DA010 30DA201 30DA202 14DA020 14GT044 68AT121 31AT183 161DA135 30AO010 108AT046 47PL122 13SD114 108FB213 26AT095 30RC571 30AT213 26DX025 26AT080 108CT338 26RC437 108AT176 26AT022 161DA015 19LR001 47DX054 26AT169 26LT600 19AT161 1AT1692 13AT715 13DA285 47AT124 35DA035 13AT013 14LF022 14EK049 26AT691 161SD174 13EK101 29AT038 19AT515 26DT1256 29AT104 14AT023 1EK156 13WM019 1AT227 30DA102 26AT033 14AT016 26AT705 13IR121 35SSB079 14DA496 26AT561 26AT886 26TV001 31CS007 14RC374 14AT075 14PCL001 14LG211 26RR003 14AT350 14PAT1289 165AT448 205AT048 2TB131 14RC127 1AT127 30LO3747 47DK101 68AT108 29FRG001 14AT824 13OT001 14AT264 14AT145 29WT211 16AT128 14AT259 1AT562 30WM019 29RC132 30DR001 30SIM050 30AT107 30AT118 31RC505 1TW025 30EK072 1RC118 1TW316 1AT535 153DA102 20LR117 1AT014 29AT101 1DA006 108DA147 2OP095 29LR049 14A033 47AT818 21DA101 31MARVE 14CI177