Boats on the Air

Boats on the Air Combines Radio and Boating Passions

On Saturday, June 5th, members of the San Francisco Amateur Radio Club (sfarc.org) will be activating a sailboat on San Francisco Bay from 1pm to 4pm PT. Inspired by successful programs like SOTA, POTA and IOTA, the idea is to create an event that feeds both amateur radio and boating passions.

The sailboat, Auriah, is a 37 foot long Beneteau Oceanis out of Sausalito, California. “The main rule of BOTA is that the boat must be underway or anchored during the activation. Mooring, or tying to a dock is not allowed. The plan is for us to be moving 100% under sail power during that time.“ says Kent Carter, AJ6NI, a catalyst for starting Boats on the Air. In addition to being a fun activity, it is hoped that BOTA will further emergency preparedness and experimentation with amateur radio.

Ryan Connolly, N9PYL, put together boatsontheair.com to support the event. In addition to activation details, photos will be posted on the website, and activators and chasers will be able to log their contacts. The future plan for the site is to provide a platform for other activations to be posted and logged, as well as provide marine ham radio resources.

Activation Plan*
June 5, 2000 - 2300 hrs UTC (1-4pm local Pacific Daylight Time)
2m FM 146.520
17m FT8 18.100
20m SSB 14.325
40m CW 7.115

*Please note that activators may move up or down in frequency a bit depending on activity.

For questions, or to post your own activation, please contact boatsontheair@gmail.com.


Activators:
Kent Carter, AJ6NI
Ryan Connolly, N9PYL
Richard Lesnick, KJ6PTX
Corey Siegal, KJ6LDJ
Dave Bullock, N3CUE
Dan Valins, KG6EWL

 

Please share the setup / rig / antenna you will be using for the activation!
Really like this idea.

 

This looks like fun!

 

Unable to see the point of your BOTA event, apart my understanding its a once-in-a-year activity.
Sail every WE and during holidays, keep making /MM contacts et voilà, no need to claim anything.
Too simple, not enough visibility, I guess...

Oliver

 

Cool ! But I only have a Surfboard
G3SEA/KH6

 

Works, provided you're not at berth nor anchored, FB.
You'll be using a kite antenna, I guess?

 

Unable to see the point of your comment. Too rude and useless, not enough reason to pay attention to it, I guess...

 

Surf Boards on the air!

 

RESERVE YOUR ACRONYM!

Already taken..

SOTA
POTA
BOTA
LOTA

Reserve your xOTA...now!

 

LOL. I learned about COTA recently - Castles On The Air.

 

Recently I've heard a lot of JOTA activity on 40 meters. Jerks On The Air.

 

Anybody need a crew member?

 

Very, very bad timing for your event with Museum Ships OTA Weekend being the same day.

 

Ahhhh...

MOTA!

 

im going to activate PORCHES ON THE AIR....IT COMBINES MY 2 PASSIONS HAM RADIO and SITTING ON MY PORCH WITH A COLD BEER.....YEHAWW!!