This is the CQ WW CW debrief you've been waiting for. Contest Crew Dan Craig N6MJ, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Randy Thompson K5ZD, and Bill Fehring W9KKN each turned in standout efforts in the 2025 CQ Worldwide CW. Dan shattered the world record with over 12,000 QSOs from EF8R in the Canary Islands. Chris also eclipsed the world record and delivered a second-place finish from CQ9A in Madeira. Randy ran a disciplined assisted effort from his new Ohio station, and Bill helped anchor a gritty multi-two push at ZF1A. Dan and Chris dig into what it takes to run 2BSIQ under pressure—right down to the hallucinations, mental fog, and tactical choices that can make or break a record run. Chris, reflecting on his near-miss, insists: “I feel like I won.” Dan agrees—if the locations were swapped, the results likely would be too. That humility underscores just how much propagation, not just talent, shapes the outcome at the highest level. Randy, now operating from W8 land, shares what surprised him most after decades in New England. Bill, meanwhile, finally hits flow state in CW, thanks to steady daily drills and a refusal to rely on repeats during practice. The team also weighs in on online scoreboards, log submission deadlines, and whether 48-hour contests should change—and why the madness might just be the point. Join the conversation and please subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.
As I remember one of the winning contesters on a previous interview stated that he stayed in the lower portion of the band, ie. the Extra portion. What is the logic to this strategy? The obvious answer is QSO rate. It seems to me that it then becomes an elite event. The casual operator probably does not even know that this is happening. My CW speed is 20 WPM tops due to being a two fingered typist due to Carpal Tunnel & Arthritis. I am not a contester, but occasionally operate an event with the idea of perhaps helping a contester with a Utah contact. I guess this really is most likely a moot point. 73 de John K7JHM
Why doesn't CQWW have a "Limited Antenna Overlay" category like the ARRL has done? It's simply a category whereby operators are limited to single element antennas like dipoles, loops, verticals, etc., no more than 50 feet above ground. Such would allow modest stations to compete against the same. 73, Tim KC3C
When you play the game, you can make rules of the game. But without all small stations no game at all. 73, PE2K
