The International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW) is an annual event held on the third full weekend of August each year. The event was the brainchild of John Forsyth and Mike Dalrymple who were members of the Ayr Amateur Radio Group in Scotland. The event, which started in 1998, has developed into an international gathering of

amateur radio Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency radio spectrum, spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emer ...

operators from an estimated 95 countries. Concurrent with this event, the Association of Lighthouse Keepers conduct their Lighthouse Heritage Weekend whereby lighthouse managers and keepers all around the world are encouraged to open their doors to the public for a viewing of their lighthouse and its history. The event is currently managed by an Australian amateur radio operator, Kevin Mulcahy (call VK2CE), who has been involved since 1998, and who now owns the domain name and web site. A small team of volunteers assist in the running of the weekend activity. Major amateur radio organizations such as the

Radio Society of Great Britain The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) is the United Kingdom's recognised national society for amateur radio operators. The society was founded in 1913 as the London Wireless Club, making it one of the oldest organisations of its kind in the ...

, the Amateur Radio Relay League of America, and the

Wireless Institute of Australia The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) was formed in 1910, and is the first and oldest national amateur radio society in the world. It represents the amateur radio operators of Australia as the AR "peak body" in dealings with the Australia ...

support and promote the weekend which accounts for the many participating countries each year.

Objective

The objective of the ILLW event is stated as "to promote public awareness of

lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Ligh ...

s and

lightships A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship that acts as a lighthouse. It is used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction. Although some records exist of fire beacons being placed on ships in Roman times, the ...

and their need for preservation and restoration, to promote

and to foster International goodwill." A classic example of what should not be allowed to happen to a lighthouse is shown here on YouTube featuring the lighthouse remains on Culebrita Island in Puerto Rico. Many of these magnificent structures are suffering from neglect and vandalism and it is the function of this event to make people aware of the need to conserve these historic aids to navigation before their existence is lost.

Format

The basic format of the event is that members of a local amateur radio club or a licensed individual will set up a radio station either in, or near to, a lighthouse. They will then operate from that station over the whole or part of the weekend. The goal is to contact other amateur stations, particularly those operating from other lighthouse sites. Visiting public are invited to watch the operators and even use the equipment under supervision while visiting the lighthouse. YouTube"Youtube
Youtube "ILLW" search results
/ref> has numerous video clips about the weekend which have been submitted by participants.

References

ARRL - Lighthouse Lightship Event Anticipating Record Participation (2013)]

ARRL - International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2012]

ARRL - International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2010]

ARRL - International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2009]

External links

Official ILLW web siteAssociation of Lighthouse KeepersNorth Foreland Lighthouse - 2013Radio Society of Sri Lanka - 2013Newport Amateur Radio Club - 2013

{{DEFAULTSORT:International Lighthouse And Lightship Weekend August events Annual events Lighthouses Amateur radio Events in Scotland Summer in Scotland