To receive contest information and updates via the SARL Contest Information WhatsApp group – e-mail your mobile number, callsign and name to contest@sarl.org.za to obtain a group chat invite link.
For international participation in SARL contests see SARL International Contests below.
How to participate in a SARL Contest
Download a copy of the SARL Contest Manual below. The manual contains the specific rules for each of the SARL contests.
On page 3 of the Contest Manual there is a list of all the SARL contests, click on the name of the contest that you are interested in and you will be redirected to that contest’s rules. The contest’s rules cover the required exchanges, operating frequencies and modes and times and dates.
On page 4 of the Contest Manual there is a list of contests sorted by date.
Download the relevant excel file for a contest from the Contest Log Sheet section below and then capture your contest QSOs into the excel log sheet. Submit your completed log sheet before the submission deadline by e-mailing it to the address indicated in the rules of the contest (there is no file upload facility). Some contests allow for the submission of Cabrillo and or ADIF format logs.
SARL Contest Manual – the ‘Blue Book’
| Document | Download link |
| 2026 SARL Contest Manual | 2026 v1.0 |
| 2026 Contest dates and times in your calendar – .ics file | coming soon |
Happy Holiday Hunt 2025
The Happy Holiday Hunt runs from 15 December 2025 to 15 January 2026.
Download the rules here and the logsheet below.
SARL Contest Calendar
Recent Contest Results
SARL International Contests
The following are contests that are open to SADC, African and International participation. The rules have been extracted from the SARL Contest Manual for easy download.
| Download Contest Rules | Date/s of Contest |
| SARL Centenary Marathon QSO Party | Duration of 2025 |
| Africa All Mode International DX Contest | 28 to 29 March 2026 |
| SARL HF Phone, Digital and CW Contest | 2, 9 and 23 August 2026 |
| Africa FT4 DX Contest | 11 April and 12 September 2026 |
| SARL National Field Day | 14 to 15 March and 5 to 6 September 2026 |
| SARL Equinox 6m African DX Entity Challenge | 16 March to 15 April and 16 September to 15 October |
Contest Log Sheets
The e-mail address for the submission of a contest log is given in the contest specific rules for each contest in the SARL Contest Manual. Download the Contest Manual to obtain the rules for each SARL contest.
By submitting their log a contestant agrees to the submission declaration contained in the SARL General Contest Rules and that the contest sponsor can send contesting related e-mails to them.
| Contest Log Sheets | Download link |
|---|---|
| 2025 Holiday Hunt | 2025 |
| SARL Centenary Marathon QSO Party | 2025 |
| SARL HF Phone, Digital and CW Contest | All legs |
| SARL National Field Day | v1.0 |
| SARL VHF/UHF FM Mode Contest | 2025 |
| SARL Club 80m, 40m and 20m Contests – for use in any leg of any club contest. Works for 80m or 40m or 20m contest and any leg. Valid for 2025 or 2026 club contests | Any Band Any leg v1.4 |
| SARL HAMNET 40 m Simulated Emergency Contest | 2025 |
| SARL QRP Contests | 2025-v1.1 |
| Africa FT4 DX Contest | 2025 |
| Africa All Mode International DX Contest | (See UDC section) |
| SARL Top Band QSO Contest | 2025 |
| SARL 80 m QSO Party | 2025 |
| ZS1 QSO Party | 2025 |
| ZS2 QSO Party | 2026 |
| ZS3 QSO Party | 2025 |
| ZS4 QSO Party | 2026 |
| ZS5 QSO Party | 2025 |
| SARL Newbie QSO Party | 2025 |
| SARL Youth QSO Party | 2025 |
| SARL YL QSO Party | 2025 |
| Antique Wireless Association CW Activity Day | 2026 |
| Antique Wireless Association Valve SSB QSO Party | 2026 |
| Hammies QSO Party | 2025 |
| Early Morning Coffee QSO Party | 2025 |
| PEARS National VHF/UHF Contest | 2026 |
| General Log Sheets | Download Link |
| General Logbook Sheet | |
| General Contest Log Sheet |
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TOOLS
Forms and Documents
| Form – Document | Download link |
|---|---|
| List of Abbreviated Club Callsigns for the SARL 40 and 80m Club Contests – latest list | 2025-v1.3 |
| List of African AF DXCC Entities | 2025-09-09 |
| The Maidenhead Locator System | |
| IARU Region 1 HF Managers Handbook | Version-9 |
| IARU Region 1 VHF Handbook | V9.00 |
| IARU Ethics and Operating Procedure for the Radio Amateur | ed3-2Jan2009 |
| Youth on the Air Contest | 2024 |
| Application for the Worked Zone 38 Award | docx |
| Mills of Southern Africa |
Cabrillo UDC Files
The following updated UDC files are available for those who use N1MM+ as their logging program. Unzip and then copy the UDC file into the UserDefinedContests folder of N1MM.
| Africa All Mode International DX Contest | SARLAAMDX 20250320 |
| SARL Wednesday 80 m Club Contest | SARL80CC 20250127 |
| SARL Saturday 40 m Club Contest | SARL40CC 20250127 |
| Africa FT4 DX Contest | SARL-FT4-Africa 20250405 |
Links to other International Contests
The following are links to international contests run by others: