Boat Radio

Shirley takes a trip on the tram, from Sóller to the Port of Sóller, in the company of her friend and former tram conductor, Bartolomé Sastre, known to everyone simply as Tolo. Born in France to Sólleric parents, Tolo remembers well the tram – now among Mallorca’s most popular and celebrated tourist attractions – being used to transport munitions during the Francoist dictatorship. But he also remembers his grandparents using it to transport their vegetables to market, long before the tourists arrived in the Sóller valley. At times during this interview, there is background noise – the noise of the tram, of course - particularly at the beginning - but things settle down after a couple of minutes and this is a lovely interview that's well worth listening to. When not recording programmes for Boat Radio, Shirley is one of the driving forces behind SollerWeb.

Another fascinating show from Brandon Huebner. The 'war' part refers to the first several pharaohs of the New Kingdom, kings who retook Egypt from the Hyksos. Specifically, Brandon examines the pharaoh Kamose' retaking of the city of Avaris, partially accomplished by amphibious assault from the Nile. He also relates the exploits of Thutmose III, but the 'peace' part refers to Queen Hatshepsut, a woman pharaoh who ruled concurrently with Thutmose III. Hatshepsut focused on reestablishing foreign trade, and one of Egypt's most well-known temple reliefs details a marvelous look at a voyage to Punt that was organized by Egypt's greatest female pharaoh. This episode also includes a look at Min of the Desert, a full-scale reconstruction based on the Hatshepsut 'Punt' ship depictions, along with boat models from the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Mark and Jennifer have been planning to quit the rat race for years - seven years in fact - and they are now just days away from casting off and setting sail... possibly forever. They downsized some time ago and since 2009 have been gradually ridding themselves of their belongings. They were so determined to buy a sailboat and make good their escape that they made a pact to not buy anything that didn't help their 'mission'. Now THAT is dedication. Many of you will recognise them from their popular website or from the name of their boat, SV Luna Sea. You can follow Mark and Jennifer's progress by visiting http://sailinglunasea.com, where there is also a handy countdown to their departure. You'll also find them on Twitter and Facebook. They spoke to Mike McDowall from their mooring in Savannah, Georgia.

We're following Susie's progress as she prepares to take on the toughest sporting challenge imaginable - the 2018 Golden Globe Race. Susie is the youngest and only female entrant in a race which will see her attempt a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe using no modern technology. That's right! No GPS! Susie will navigate using a sextant. Her boat is a 1995 Rustler 36 called Ariadne. Susie's just about ready to get her in the water and sail her to Falmouth, where Rustler will install a collision bulkhead. Right now, her dad is installing custom life raft mounts to his own design. In this update, Susie talks about the mental challenge ahead. Just how will she cope alone at sea for more than 300 days? And how will her parents cope, back home in the UK and unable to contact their daughter?

Jackie Brown arrived in Deia on Mallorca’s north coast in 1959 and, on her first night in the village, met artist – later eminent archaeologist – Bill Waldren. A few months later, Jackie married Bill and they lived in Deia and Palma on and off for many years. Jackie has now returned to Deia and she gave Shirley Roberts a candid interview about her extraordinarily full life. Over the years, Jackie, Bill and their four daughters, survived considerable adversity – not least of which being their always precarious financial circumstances – but this is not merely a tale of tenacity, this is a story of survival in a bygone age and a vivid portrait of a unique and celebrated village undergoing profound changes. Added to that, what begins as social history becomes a chronicle of the interactions of a number of leading writers, artists, musicians and scientists of the twentieth century, whose paths crossed because of their connections to Deia and to the Waldrens. Luke Rhinehart, Desmond Morris, Robert Graves, Richar

Returning from the research expedition, the Ault is caught in a fierce storm. Hurricane strength winds snap the vessel's anchor rode, leaving the boat adrift in stormy seas among icebergs and uncharted rocks. The Ault is all but dashed before the mother of all waves leaves her teetering on the edge of a complete roll. A lost line wraps around the prop and suddenly the crew is faced with the prospect of donning ditch suits and getting into the life raft. Their mayday call is answered by the Danish Navy but there's a nerve-racking six-hour wait before help arrives. This is absolutely sensational stuff, told by Captain Matt Rutherford. Listen as he explains how he braces himself against the mast as his vessel heels over until the pilothouse windows on one side are beneath the surface and water is gushing in all around him. Thankfully no one was killed or seriously injured. Do not miss this episode!

Slow down, relax, eat chocolate and maybe take a holiday away from the boat. More excellent advice for boat buyers and new owners from Carolyn Shearlock of The Boat Galley. This week, Carolyn focuses on relaxation, delegation and perhaps a little vacation. This series of programmes really is essential listening for anyone who has just bought a boat or is planning to do so. Highly recommended.

It's Shootout weekend on the Lake of the Ozarks and Captain Bob's got all the details of the high speed thrills.

The eighth installment of this wonderful lecture series from Brandon Huebner explores the maritime connections of Egypt during the Middle Kingdom period. An inscription left by an explorer named Hannu helps us get a grasp on the reopening of trade in the Red Sea, and a literary narrative called The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor helps us understand the Middle Kingdom mindset as related to the sea. Also covered in this episode: the debate about when the Canal of the Pharaohs was finished, the physical evidence of funerary boats found outside a pyramid at Dashur, and a few other scattered topics. Brandon Huebner is a terrific, fresh new voice in the field of maritime history and these impeccably researched programmes offer a wonderful introduction to the ancient world. Of course, you're free to dip in and out, choosing those subjects which interest you most, but we'd recommend starting with Episode 1.

Ryan Walton owns and runs Deep Obsession Dive Charters in Jupiter, Florida. He is preparing Sarah O'Kelly for her live shark dive radio show, due to take place towards the end of September. Here, Ryan explains how he made the transition from mere diver to shark diver and discusses the kind of conditions Sarah will encounter when diving with the beasts. He also discusses the plight of the shark - a subject clearly close to his heart. Sarah O'Kelly is the creator and owner of Skipper's Review, a review and recommendation website for boaters and the marine leisure industry. Find her at www.skippersreview.com

Musician, author, artist and one-time boat builder Ben Harrison relates the remarkable story of how he and his wife, Helen, ended up constructing a boat up a mountain in Costa Rica in the 1970s. They then had to get it down the mountain to the sea – at not inconsiderable risk to their marriage and their sanity – and from there they sailed it to Key West. They took their time though – five years in fact – enjoying some of the wonders of the Caribbean before returning to Florida and finding a mooring for $75 per month including power and water. Imagine that! Ben and Helen now run the highly-respected Harrison Gallery in Key West, exhibiting and selling, among other artists' creations, Helen’s sculptures. Ben works mostly as a musician but is also the author of several books, including the acclaimed ‘Sailing Down the Mountain’, which is a terrific read. http://www.harrison-gallery.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Sailing-Down-Mountain-Ben-Harrison-ebook/dp/B00JZ1CUB2

Shirley Roberts visits Giovanni L's - possibly the coolest ice cream parlour in Sóller. Giovanni L's is run by Maiko Bailly, a former hotel worker from Hamburg who, along with his wife Joanna, has transformed an outmoded shoe shop in the centre of the city into an ice cream emporium extraordinaire. Tune in to find out the meaning of the phrase 'praline Mozart changed my life'. Find out the best flavour to eat in summer and who's eating all the ice cream in February.

The latest edition of this wonderful history series from Brandon Huebner. Brandon is a bright new voice in the field of history - specifically maritime history - and these programmes make fascinating listening. In this episode he focuses on the scope of Egypt's maritime reach during the Old Kingdom's fifth and sixth dynasties. Topics include the development and refinement of maritime technology like the sail and the hogging truss, the discovery of an ancient harbor at Wadi el-Jarf, and the mysterious land of Punt as it relates to the story of Harkhuf, the boy pharaoh Pepi II, and a pygmy from Nubia. This is quite a voyage!

This week Carolyn concentrates on reassuring novice live-aboards that things will get better. The lessons are: slow down, take your time, don't take on too much at once and don't try to transfer the sort of pressures and deadlines you're accustomed to on dry land onto your boat. Poc a poc, as people say here in Mallorca.

More boating mayhem from the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Last week, Bob spoke to special guest, country music star Darryl Worley about the Tennessee River Run. This week it’s Mini Shoot Out Day at Ha Ha Tonka State Park (that’s radio controlled boats, to you and me). It’s also Missouri Wine and Brew Fest so Bob will be trying out a few alcoholic drinks. Plus, he chats to Jason Johnson from Speed On The Water and gets the skinny on a new service – a drive-in boat wash. This is THE recreational boating radio show.

This week, as the all-day darkness of Arctic winter approaches, Captain Matt Rutherford fits his boat with headlights. With parts unavailable, he's forced to indulge in a bit of dumpster diving, hindered by packs of Greenlandic dogs. Pioneering stuff from the crew of the research vessel Ault, who're gathering data for NASA in extreme conditions. www.boatradio.net

In this sensational edition of The Sail Racing Magazine Show, Justin Chisholm experiences foiling for the first time, and he does it in extraordinary style aboard the Team ENGIE GC32 racing catamaran as a guest of up and coming French skipper Sebastien Rogues. Also in this programme, Justin finds out what it takes to become a foiling expert in the company of British International Moth Class hobbyist and Volvo Ocean Race and Extreme Sailing Series winner Rob Greenhalgh. Plus, he chats to GC32 Norauto team skipper Franck Cammas and the man behind Foiling Week on Lake Garda, Luca Rizzotti. Don't miss this terrific programme celebrating the spectacular sport of racing flying sailing boats. Simply brilliant!

Back in the noughties they were known as Segway scooters... Now they've been relaunched with a new name - Ninebot Ninja - and visitors to the Port of Sóller are being offered a new service: guided Ninebot tours of the bay. It's the brainchild of Mallorca-based businessman Nick Magliochetti. To avoid any accidents, Shirley Roberts sent Mike McDowall to investigate. For more information about Shirley, visit her website: www.sollerweb.com To rent or buy a Ninebot Ninja, go to www.ninebot.ninja You can follow Ninebot Ninja on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using the handle: @ninebotninja

At some point during the past few weeks, Sarah O'Kelly's producer hatched a plan to get her out ONTO and UNDER the water. So now she's in the middle of preparations for what will be the world's first ever live shark dive radio show. Sarah will be under 30 metres of water - that's about 90 feet - three miles off the coast of Florida, in the company of renowned shark diver, conservationist and film maker Jim Abernethy. You will be able to listen live, from anywhere in the world, by switching on Boat Radio. You’ll be able to WATCH too, because Sarah and Jim will be fitted with cameras. It is going to be JAW-DROPPING, BREATH-TAKING and HEART-STOPPING. Of course, Sarah's going to need special equipment and that’s where today's guest comes in. John Hott works for Ocean Technology Systems – THE world leader in underwater communications gear. To learn more about Ocean Technology Systems, visit their website: http://www.oceantechnologysystems.com/ You can also follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.c

In this terrific interview, Simon Pitout - Vice President Commercial at DP World - talks about his rise to the upper echelons of the shipping terminal giant. From his blue collar beginnings as a deckhand and dockworker through the highs and lows of working in many West African nations, to his move to the United Arab Emirates, Simon speaks candidly about his love of the sea and his life on the road. Along the way, we learn that the only thing worse than a cannibal is a cannibal with a machine gun and that if you need to rent a dredger in Nigeria, it might be cheaper to build your own... in Holland. But you've got to watch out in case it unexpectedly blows up. This is an interview in two parts and it's well worth downloading both of them. For more information about Simon, and about DP World, visit http://web.dpworld.com/about-dp-world/people/ Follow Simon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonpitout Find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonpitout/