The Gulf Coast Contest Club — serious HF contesting from Reddington Beach, Florida.
The Gulf Coast Contest Club — GCCC — is a group of Florida hams united by a love of HF contesting and a belief that competing as a club makes every operator better. We're based in Reddington Beach, Florida, in the heart of the Pinellas County barrier island chain, and we operate on-the-air as NE2CC in multi-operator events and club aggregate competitions throughout the year.
The club has operated under the NE2CC callsign since 2001, originally as the Empire Contest Club. In 2026 the club was reorganized and renamed the Gulf Coast Contest Club, better reflecting our home on Florida's Gulf Coast and the community we represent.
We participate in all major HF contests as a club, coordinating multi-operator operations, sharing strategy and equipment knowledge, and submitting scores under the GCCC club banner. Our primary focus is high-frequency contesting across all bands and modes, with particular emphasis on CQ World Wide, ARRL Sweepstakes, CQ WPX, and ARRL Field Day.
Beyond contesting, we run regular club nets, share antenna and station-building knowledge, and actively mentor members who are newer to competitive operating. Membership is by invitation only — current members may sponsor prospective applicants.
Reddington Beach sits on a narrow barrier island between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, giving club members access to outstanding propagation in nearly every direction. European paths on 20 and 15 meters open reliably, with strong Caribbean and South American signals on 10 and 17 meters during favorable solar cycles.
The coastal environment also means excellent low-band performance on 40 and 80 meters during contest season — a significant advantage for ARRL Sweepstakes and CQ WW, where domestic and regional contacts on the lower bands drive scores.
GCCC is a closed club — membership is by invitation only. Prospective members must be sponsored by a current club member. Members hold a General class license or above and are active HF contesters.
Membership means participating in club nets, submitting scores under the GCCC club affiliation, and being an active part of the contest community on the Gulf Coast.
| Callsign | NE2CC |
| Location | Reddington Beach, FL |
| County | Pinellas |
| ARRL section | West Central FL |
| License required | General or above |
| Dues | None currently |