Boat Radio

Howard Rice sets sail TODAY, January 6th, on a perilous journey around Tierra del Fuego in a boat less than 12 feet long. He built Southern Cross himself, from a John Welsford design. It is equipped with a tent, a wood-burning stove and numerous GoPro cameras. It is packed with enough food to last him three months. Today Howard begins a dance with the elements that’s set to last many weeks.

Robert Graves was a poet, novelist, historian and a resident of Deia for more than half his life. His son, William, first came to Mallorca aged five, shortly after the end of World War Two, and has lived here ever since. He spoke to Shirley Roberts on the terrace of La Casa de Robert Graves - his childhood home - which is now open to the public.

Tales of adventure

Documentary Sense the Wind tells the extraordinary story of four blind racing sailors and their battles to make the finals of the Blind Sailing World Championships in Japan. Mike McDowall talks to one of those sailors - Matt Chao - and to director Christine Knowlton about this remarkable four-year film project. Hear Matt crush political correctness, laugh in the face of adversity and explain his desire to fly a plane. Plus, of course, learn how a blind sailor really does 'sense the wind'.

A packed New Year’s Eve Special from the Lake of the Ozarks. Chris Stec from the American Canoe Association talks about a new series of educational videos. Mike Kenagy has details of the LOTO Marine Dealers Overland Park Boat Show. Plus, Robert Smith of MYMIC will be chatting about marina safety training.

Jackie Brown arrived in Deia on Mallorca’s north coast in 1959 and, on her first night in the village, met artist, and 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.

John’s eldest daughter, Alex, joins him to discuss cribbage, blanket forts, lighting design and possible itineraries for his circumnavigation.

Habits you need to develop to stay safe in the galley. Carolyn Shearlock has spent many years living aboard boats in the Sea of Cortez and the Caribbean – both mono and multihulls. Added to that, she has a best-selling cookbook, so she has plenty of useful advice for anyone contemplating time in the galley. In this podcast, she outlines her key advice for boat cooks.

A packed show for Christmas. First up, Mike Shepherd talks about Lake Race 2017. Next, Bob is joined by Carrie Vandelay, General Manager of ReefPoint Marina in Racine, Wisconsin. Gayle Hine’s in the studio to talk about the 28th annual Women’s Sailing Convention, and Becca Doyle is back to talk more about the upcoming St Louis Boat Show.

Superstar DJ Des Mitchell might reasonably be described as the sound of Mallorca. Okay, he’s not the traditional sound of Mallorca but, if you’ve ever spent a night at premier superclub BCM Planet Dance or listened to Radio One Mallorca, then Des Mitchell has influenced your life, directly or otherwise. Many years ago, he transformed the sound of BCM, taking it into the clubland stratosphere. These days it regularly makes it onto the list of the world’s top dance venues. Meanwhile, Des’ drivetime show is essential listening for Mallorca’s citizens, both expat and local. But demand for Des Mitchell stretches far beyond the Balearics. Right now, he’s settling into a winter residency in the Maldives and he is already booked for festivals, events and even private parties (for the very well-heeled, we assume) through to the end of 2017.

The Trojan War. The Homeric epic poem The Iliad is now one of the most well-known Greek myths. Before the discoveries of Mycenae and Troy around the turn of the century, almost no one believed that the Trojan War had actually happened. Now, archaeological evidence from Troy and other Anatolian coastal cities, combined with letters and treaties found in Hittite archives give us a glimpse at a what may be the historical basis of the Trojan War. Homer tells us of black ships on Trojan shores and of epic clashes between heroes who were aided by the gods. The Hittite archives tell us of Mycenaean raiders on the Anatolian coast and of a Hittite king who moved in to quell a Mycenaean backed rebellion. Listen to this latest episode to see what is now known about the state of the Bronze Age world at the time Herodotus thought the Trojan War had been fought.