Gaiatas from Castellon 2026

Cluster Hunters Activators Statistics Rules

1. Objective
To promote friendship and competition among radio amateurs.

2. Start and end dates
The Gaiatas de Castellón Award 2026 will be active from 00:00 UTC on February 20, 2026 until 23:59 UTC on March 6, 2026, with the following call signs:

AO5BC – AO5FA – AO5PS – AO5AR – AO5HC – AO5FR – AO5CC – AO5PO – AO5ES – AO5TO – AO5FP – AO5GR – AO5SE – AO5CA – AO5SQ – AO5RA – AO5TI – AO5CR – AO5CU – AO5DG

3. QSO
All QSOs are valid with exchange (R/S in SSB, R/S/T in CW, R/S in DIGI).

4. HF Bands
80 m – 40 m – 30 m – 20 m – 15 m – 10 m

5. Modes
There will be three categories according to transmission modes: CW, SSB, DIGITAL (FT8, FT4).

6. Scoring / QSO
Points will be awarded daily for contacts on different bands and modes.
To obtain the DGCS 2026 Diploma, a minimum of 100 points must be achieved during the event.

Points awarded per contact with each station, depending on the mode:

• CW: 5 points per CW QSO.
Each day, one contact may be made with each event station on each band in CW.
That is, 20 stations × 6 bands × 5 points = maximum 600 CW points per day.

• SSB: 5 points per SSB QSO on each band.
Example: EF5RA (or any other special station), QSO on 80 m LSB, 15 m USB, 10 m USB:
5 + 5 + 5 = 15 points.
Maximum: 20 stations × 6 bands × 5 points = 600 SSB points per day.

• DIGI: 2 points per FT8 or FT4 QSO on each band.
Example: EF5RA (or any other special station), QSO on 80 m FT8, 15 m FT4, 10 m FT8:
2 + 2 + 2 = 6 points.

Total maximum: 20 stations × 6 bands × 2 points = 240 DIGI points per day.

7. QSO validation
Each special station may be worked once per day on each band and mode.
Duplicate QSOs will not be penalized.
IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN TO REQUEST A QSY OF BAND OR MODE FROM THE ACTIVATOR.

8. Awards
At the end of the event, 8 awards will be granted for working the event stations, according to the following classification:
Prize limitation per participant
Each participant may obtain only one first-place prize across the entire contest, regardless of the number of categories entered.
If the same participant achieves the highest score in more than one category, they will be awarded only one prize, corresponding to the category in which they achieved the greatest relative advantage or highest absolute score (or as determined by the organizers).
The first-place prize in the remaining category/categories will be awarded to the next highest-ranked participant, excluding the already awarded participant.
Under no circumstances may a participant accumulate first-place prizes in different categories.

NATIONAL CATEGORY
OVERALL CHAMPION
Plaque + Award, to the operator with the best classification in MIXED mode.
MODE CHAMPIONS
Plaque + Award, to the operator with the highest score in SSB mode.
Plaque + Award, to the operator with the highest score in CW mode.
Plaque + Award, to the operator with the highest score in DIGI mode.

INTERNATIONAL CATEGORY
OVERALL CHAMPION
Plaque + Award, to the operator with the best classification in MIXED mode.
MODE CHAMPIONS
Plaque + Award, to the operator with the highest score in SSB mode.
Plaque + Award, to the operator with the highest score in CW mode.
Plaque + Award, to the operator with the highest score in DIGI mode.

9. Scoring
Points are awarded for each non-duplicate QSO with event stations, on any authorized band or mode.
The ranking will be calculated by highest total score; in the event of a tie, by highest number of QSOs, and if still tied, by highest number of bands worked.

10. Award delivery and QSL
To obtain the DGCS 2026 Award, a minimum of 100 points is required within the times and modes specified in these rules.
The award is free of charge and does not require paper QSLs or QSO confirmations.
The award will be issued by downloading the digital file via hamaward.cloud or qrz.com pages.
The eQSL download will be available on Hamaward.cloud.
There is no need to send logs or QSLs.
11. Special awards for activators

The DGCS 2026 organizers will award plaques to:
Activators:
• 1st place for the sum of positions achieved in the other 3 rankings, MIXED mode (SSB–CW–DIGI)
• 1st place for the highest number of QSOs made on all bands, SSB mode
• 1st place for the highest number of QSOs made on all bands, CW mode
• 1st place for the highest number of QSOs made on all bands, DIGI mode

Notes:
Participation in the diploma implies sportsmanlike behavior and acceptance of these rules.
The CTA will resolve any situations not covered in these rules.
For any clarification or questions, please send an email to:
info@diplomagaiatasdecastellon.com

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