The beach on the right of our station. (View to the east.)
 
 

 
Two lagoons just behind the station.
 
 

 
Shells in the lagoon.
 
Due to the actualo sun-spot-minimum the results on the higher bands were not very productive. On 24 and 28 MHz we had no QSO's. On 21 MHz we had not much QSO's, the reason were not only the conditions. The worked stations on 21 were quite strong and we got good reports too. BUT only few stations noticed, the band opening. I am sure, the reason is the laziness of the operators. They prefer to watch the cluster-screens instead of tuning the bands.
The existence of the beacons seems to be unknown to most HAMs. The beacon YV5B in Caracas is a very good reference.
Once I was calling CQ for more then 30 minutes on 21.020 kHz without any answer. The band was wide open, because I heard beacons, SSB- and PSK-stations.

I recommend to observe the bands too, because not everybody has cluster-access or is willing to share his/here DX-successes :-)
 
We also had the opportunity to make a tour through the archipelago. We got an invitation from the navy for a sightseeing tour.

The area is unique, but only few people have the opportunity for a visit. Tourism is almost zero, except some yachts owned by "lucky" people.

On some islands are some fisher huts used for the lobster-season. Generally the islands are not populated except by the navy personnel.

Watching the following pictures, you will agree with me, it's an extraordinary area.
 
 

 
One of the small islands of the archipelago.
 
 

 
The island, where the lighthouse is located.
 
 

 
The lighthouse with racon of "Aves de Sotavento"  WLOTA Ref.: LH 0587
 
 

 
A view from the platform of the lighthouse.

© YV5EED
 
 

 
2007  - YW5AS
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
A small island in front of the lighthouse island.
 
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