The 15th annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend in August has inspired many to register early with 32 countries and nearly 250 registered already.

Although this is just over half of the countries normally attracted by the event it is slightly ahead of expectations with ten weeks to go.

The weekend increases the public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and their need for them to be preserved, promotes amateur radio and fosters international goodwill.

The event was started mainly by late Mike Dalrymple GM4SUC and the Ayr Amateur Radio Group in 1995 as the Northern Lighthouse Activity Weekend with stations at Scottish lighthouses. It quickly went international.

The third weekend in August coincides with the worldwide lighthouse open day organised by the Association of Lighthouse Keepers that sees public access to many of the featured lighthouses.

During the weekend a group or individual sets up an amateur station at or adjacent to a lighthouse, lightship or marine beacon that is listed.

To register, complete a short online form, read the event rules and have lots of fun. We have complete statistics on past events, reports from previous years and we're on Facebook too.

Visit the website at http://illw.net for the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend held on August the 18th and 19th.