BiWota 2026
Members of the Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group took part in this year’s British Inland Waterways on the Air (BiWota) event over the August Bank Holiday weekend, operating as GB0SL from the car park and beer garden at the Clock Warehouse Public House, right beside Shardlow Lock Number 2 and the historic Trent & Mersey Canal — in Shardlow, the notable 18th‑century inland port.
We arrived full of anticipation, but Saturday proved a tough start: steady rain fell all day, keeping spirits damp and signals weak. HF band conditions were far from kind, with propagation offering few openings to make those sought‑after contacts. We made the best of it, but progress was slow.
Sunday brought brighter skies and much better operating weather — though forecasts warned a weather front would sweep in from early afternoon. Not wanting to get caught out, the group decided to pack up and head home ahead of the expected downpour. The irony, of course, was only discovered once we were back: the rain didn’t actually arrive until 5 pm, leaving us kicking ourselves for missing out on several valuable hours of prime operating time!
Despite the mixed weather and that last‑minute dash home, it was a wonderful weekend on the waterways. Activating GB0SL from such a fantastic location, made every challenge worthwhile. We’re already looking forward to next year, with one resolution: trust the forecast a little less, and stay on station a little longer!
