>>> 🐧NEW ONE IOTA WBA 2026 🐧 <<< 165DA/M014 – SPARGI ISLAND IOTA (by 165DA101 Alex)/ 5 PTS (H)/14 PTS (A) / DATE: 16/07/2026 start @ 08.00 – 13.00 UTC / Freq. stay tuned on WhatsApp WBA news / PROVINCE 113 (Gallura)/ Historical Region HR27 (Gallura) / Municipality E425 (La Maddalena) (FIRST Time on 11 M Band!)
ANT: 3 EL. SKYPPER / PW 270W / Pts(A):5IOTA+3Prvt+2Field+3Mil+1N.One=14
🚨 IOTA DXpedition: SPARGI Island M014 – Final Activation Report 🚨
🏝️ ALEX’S ADVENTURE: THE STORY FROM SPARGI M014
Our adventure began under the sign of a typical, scorching July day in Sardinia. From the very early morning, the sky showed a yellowish tint, heavy with that haze typical of Saharan dust at high altitudes. Fortunately for us, the marine microclimate of the La Maddalena Archipelago mitigated the temperature, keeping the maximums around 31 degrees.
After a hearty breakfast in Palau to fill up on energy, we took the 07:30 ferry to La Maddalena, where we had our appointment with the skipper at 8:30. The town was already bustling, teeming with tourists ready to sail. Our skipper, Paolo, was swiss-like in his punctuality: with a full tank of gas and all the radio equipment loaded on board, we set sail. Compared to last year’s activation on Budelli, the conditions were much better, with a calm sea that made the crossing very pleasant.
During the journey, we planned our positioning strategy. Spargi is a mountainous and rugged island, and it is anything but easy to find an accessible spot that guarantees good radiant openings toward the horizon. In the end, the choice fell on the area of Cala di Punta Rossa Corsara: an excellent compromise that ensured a clear semicircle from obstacles between 290 and 90 degrees, with the mountainous terrain behind us to the North.
Once on site, we met the park ranger Renzo. With great helpfulness, he suggested we position ourselves on a sheltered little beach right behind Punta Rossa, recommending that we stay in a set-back position. He warned us that, throughout the day, the island would be literally invaded by waves of beachgoers dropped off in shifts by tourist boats.
Just when everything seemed ready to start, here came the cold shower during testing: extremely high SWR 📉! Visually, there was no anomaly on the cables. Dismantling the components, we discovered the culprit: on the SO239 connector of the Skypper’s choke, which I had recently replaced, the solder securing the hot pin had completely vanished, probably snapped by the vibrations of the trip. With the panic of the debut and the real risk of the entire activation failing, I armed myself with patience: I widened the internal section of the hot pin, folding it back on itself to make mechanical contact. A risky and precarious trick, but fortunately, it held up for the entire duration of the event 🛠️!
At 10:55 local time, the first CQ went on-air 📡. Propagation immediately proved to be generous: a very strong European opening and, surprisingly, excellent signals from North Africa. The latter also gifted a fantastic backscatter reflection, thanks to which we managed to log our friends from Southern Sardinia – a usually very difficult distance to cover on the 11-meter band via ground wave or line of sight.
As predicted by Renzo, the beach filled up with tourists in waves. Many, intrigued by that strange antenna shaped like an upside-down umbrella, came over to ask what we were doing, and someone even joked asking if we were setting up a set for a photo shoot, haha! Among the crowd, we also received a visit from a few radio operators on vacation, who greeted us warmly and asked for a direct QSO 🎙️.
In the hottest hours, a small beach umbrella as a shield and a few quick, refreshing dips in the crystal-clear waters of Spargi allowed me to resist the burning sun. It was a memorable day, a fantastic experience that I will cherish forever in my heart. Spargi is officially conquered 🏝️!
📊 OFFICIAL LOG STATISTICS (WBA M014)
The lightning operation ended with extraordinary numbers considering the tight time window and the initial technical hitch. Below is the real data analysis extracted directly from the station log file:
👉 Total QSOs in Log: 217 valid contacts 👉 Start Time: 10:55 Local (08:55 UTC) 👉 End Time: 17:00 Local (15:00 UTC) 👉 Exact Duration of Activity: 4 hours and 5 minutes (perfectly within the promised 5-hour limit!)
🌍 Top 5 Countries/Divisions in the Log: Thanks to the great opening and the performance of the Skypper with horizontal polarization, the pile-up saturation saw the following divisions dominate the log:
- France (Div. 14): 77 QSOs 🇫🇷
- Italy (Div. 1): 33 QSOs 🇮🇹 (including the difficult backscatter contacts with Southern Sardinia)
- England (Div. 26): 20 QSOs 🏴
- Spain (Div. 30): 16 QSOs 🇪🇸
- Germany (Div. 13): 14 QSOs 🇩🇪
Significant contacts were also made with more distant European countries such as Belgium (Div. 16), Switzerland (Div. 15), Austria (Div. 35), and Poland (Div. 161), alongside sudden openings towards the Mediterranean basin.
A huge thank you goes out to all the chasers who supported the activations, allowing us to achieve this wonderful logistical feat, and to Gaetano 1DA001 for the usual management of QSL requests.
Spargi is in the archives, and now… heading towards the lighthouse of Razzoli M011 🧭📻!
🔴 IOTA DXpedition: SPARGI Island – The “Absolute New One” on the 11-Meter Band! 🔴
Attention Island Chasers and WBA (World Beauties Award) DXers!
The first stop of our incredible adventure in the Maddalena Archipelago (IOTA EU-041) is officially ready for take-off. We are putting a paradise island on-air that has never been activated before on the 11-meter band (27 MHz)!
📅 Date and Tight Operational Window!
We won’t have whole days at our disposal. Due to local park regulations and logistics, this will be a rapid, high-intensity operation:
- When: Thursday, July 16th, 2026
- Maximum Duration: Only 5 HOURS of on-air activity!
- WBA Reference: 165DA/M014
Chaser Alert: Fire up your rigs and be ready from the very first minute. With only 5 hours on the air, focus and timing are everything. Don’t miss your chance!
📡 The Setup & Team
Operating from a wild, strategic field setup right on the rocky cliffs of Spargi:
- Operator: Alex 165DA101
- Mascot: The faithful plush penguin Giacomino (wearing his striped sweater!)
- Antenna: 3-Element Skypper Beam (horizontal polarization) to exploit the Sea Effect and summer Sporadic-E!
🤝 Support Our Mission!
If you value our efforts to bring unique islands to your logbook, please consider supporting us by becoming a WBA CONTRIBUTOR. Unlike exclusive clubs, we believe in full sharing and open support for all hunters via WhatsApp, Messenger, and our Facebook Group “WBA Award News“.
👉 Check the official supporters list and find the donation link here: https://sbota.org/siba-award-the-supporterslist/
The countdown to Spargi on July 16th has begun. See you in the pile-up!
ISLAND BASE ONLINE M014 SPARGI ISLAND
Are you in the Log? Click below.
| LOG |
| 14GT44 Pierrot 14AT824 Philippe 14DA1 Stéphane 16AT128 Stéphane 14LE928 Bruno 14EK154 Daniel 14AT247 Hervé 14LE1191 Manuel 13AT715 Pete 30AT252 Pepe 14RA41 Chris 108AT46 Jim 26AT33 Chris 14AT75 Georgette 30/13LR76 Roger 14DA70 Franck 14DA62 Gérard 14AT148 Philippe 29LR49 Michael 14AT371 Michel 19LR1 Ger 1DA6 Sergio 1AT682 Giuliano 13SD208 Wolf 26AT169 Bill 14DA496 Marino 26OP11 Barry 19AT515 Ron 14AT219 Alain 30DA201 Pepe 14AT177 Manu 26DX25 Paul 161DA135 Sylvester 14DA20 Pascal 14PAT1093 Jimmy 1RC118 Vittorio 1AT127 Luciano 1AT1692 Willi 26DX47 Darran 14AT269 Franck 16RSN6 Staf 1DA1 Gaetano 45SB101 Bob 26AT95 David 14DA59 Jack 14VD469 Yannick 13SD114 Matt 14KF1 Pascal 30DA202 Javier 68AT121 Robert 47DX11 Finn 30RC571 Maico 14AT143 Fabrice 19DA256 Twan 1AT227 Livio 1AT400 Vittorio 14AT264 Pat 14EK34 Michel 14DT17 Christian 14FDX300 Arnauld 14AT47 Yohann 14AT250 Michel 13DA12 Joe 68AT108 Richard 1DA86 Carmelo 165AT17 Mario 14DA28 Philippe 14AT369 Alain 13LR10 Erich 14AT401 Jean Pierre 14AT129 Guy 68AT137 Alan 14HR62 Roger 14MC76 Sylvan 165AT448 Franco 14AT16 Bruno 13AT289 Jakob 14RC312 Cesar 34DA101 Berto 14AT197 Philippe 108CT338 Kenny 1AT506 Piero 13IR121 Jürgen 13VOG17 Billy 14AT678 Raymond 1EK156 Mauro 1TW25 Claudio 14AT23 Jean Marc 1SP1 Santo 109CT473 Zolee 29AT101 Mike 13AT13 Steve 14AT292 Bernard 14AT661 Gérard 1PC74 Mattia 13RI672 Gaetano 14AT201 Farid 161EX15 Jurek 161SM153 Piotr 26OB2020 Paul 1EK115 Emanuele 14AT90 Marcel 1AT14 Vincenzo 1SD14 Fabio 161EX16 Mariusz 1AT771 Marco 13DA285 Tommy 13AT666 Markus 1RC288 Gabriele 26AT22 Ron 31FV1 Fabio 165PAT104 Pierpaolo 35RC1 Hannes 14AT156 Francois 14AT759 Xavier 14DA14 Eric 47TL58 Ove 14DA181 Marc 14VD163 Denis 14FDX62 Vicent 14AT268 Alex 19AT112 Rob 26DA40 Robert 26RC333 David 14GT54 Gérald 26AT80 Harry 30RC13 Fran 14AT252 Eric 14EK102 Jean 14AG333 Claude 26DT1256 Martie 1ALE13 Alessandro 30RC564 Jesus 161SD102 Darek 1AT114 Mauro 14AT253 Thomas 14AT214 Rodolphe 14CI177 Olivier 14KPI77 Daniel 19SD188 Andy 47DX54 Leif 26AT142 Chris 19AT371 Freddy 13ET110 Boris 19SR109 Marcel 165AT131 Riccardo 30DA10 Sergio 14RC226 Jean Pierre 31AT183 Nuno 14DA49 Fred 35SSB79 Björn 19AT208 Adrie 108FB213 Brian 14/16RC349 Olivier 30WM19 Miguel 14RC320 Pierre 329CZ91 Jirka 47DX109 Jesper 153DA102 Lars 14RC980 Jeff 26RC2 Tom 26WD44 David 14KW605 Patrice 26RC365 Paul 1AT1564 Marco 14AT832 Christian 1CI373 Luigi 14ED101 David 14DT120 Thierry 1LD62 Maurizio 15AL24 Bruno 14GEF721 Pascal 14LG56 Laurent 26TE123 Gary 1AN448 Paolo 163AA1 Alan 13WM19 Wim 34AT192 Nando 14DX19 Chris 19AT546 Roel 161AT115 Lukasz 26AT23 Ian 14CF9 Philippe 34AT116 Belen 1SD125 Antonio 47PL122 Arne 30LR131 Manuel 1PAT218 Eugenio 14DA27 Thierry 26AT239 Tim 1AT484 Giuseppe 1SR13 Andrea 30NN3 Mick 91AT109 Agus 93DA101 Brian 30AO10 Oscar 26WR1 David 14BL33 Laurent 91AT777 Hakiem 91AT149 Ari 3AT303 Renato 30AIR5 Jose 1AT586 Franco 1AT70 Simon 161DA15 Janusz #REF! 31PAT367 Joaquim 14PAT1082 René 14JP775 Jean Paul 14RC82 Seb 30NA1 30DR1 David 1AT535 Alessandro 1AT48 Max 3AT101 Fernando 30HP1 José 3RC103 Omar ————————————– 14GT044 14AT824 14DA001 16AT128 14LE928 14EK154 14AT247 14LE1191 13AT715 30AT252 14RA041 108AT046 26AT033 14AT075 30/13LR076 14DA070 14DA062 14AT148 29LR049 14AT371 19LR001 1DA006 1AT682 13SD208 26AT169 14DA496 26OP011 19AT515 14AT219 30DA201 14AT177 26DX025 161DA135 14DA020 14PAT1093 1RC118 1AT127 1AT1692 26DX047 14AT269 16RSN006 1DA001 45SB101 26AT095 14DA059 14VD469 13SD114 14KF001 30DA202 68AT121 47DX011 30RC571 14AT143 19DA256 1AT227 1AT400 14AT264 14EK034 14DT017 14FDX300 14AT047 14AT250 13DA012 68AT108 1DA086 165AT017 14DA028 14AT369 13LR010 14AT401 14AT129 68AT137 14HR062 14MC076 165AT448 14AT016 13AT289 14RC312 34DA101 14AT197 108CT338 1AT506 13IR121 13VOG017 14AT678 1EK156 1TW025 14AT023 1SP001 109CT473 29AT101 13AT013 14AT292 14AT661 1PC074 13RI672 14AT201 161EX015 161SM153 26OB2020 1EK115 14AT090 1AT014 1SD014 161EX016 1AT771 13DA285 13AT666 1RC288 26AT022 31FV001 165PAT104 35RC001 14AT156 14AT759 14DA014 47TL058 14DA181 14VD163 14FDX062 14AT268 19AT112 26DA040 26RC333 14GT054 26AT080 30RC013 14AT252 14EK102 14AG333 26DT1256 1ALE013 30RC564 161SD102 1AT114 14AT253 14AT214 14CI177 14KPI077 19SD188 47DX054 26AT142 19AT371 13ET110 19SR109 165AT131 30DA010 14RC226 31AT183 14DA049 35SSB079 19AT208 108FB213 14/16RC349 30WM019 14RC320 329CZ091 47DX109 153DA102 14RC980 26RC002 26WD044 14KW605 26RC365 1AT1564 14AT832 1CI373 14ED101 14DT120 1LD062 15AL024 14GEF721 14LG056 26TE123 1AN448 163AA001 13WM019 34AT192 14DX019 19AT546 161AT115 26AT023 14CF009 34AT116 1SD125 47PL122 30LR131 1PAT218 14DA027 26AT239 1AT484 1SR013 30NN003 91AT109 93DA101 30AO010 26WR001 14BL033 91AT777 91AT149 3AT303 30AIR005 1AT586 1AT070 161DA015 14RC085 31PAT367 14PAT1082 14JP775 14RC082 30NA001 30DR001 1AT535 1AT048 3AT101 30HP001 3RC103 |
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