Boat Radio

Doctor John Ross of Clipper Telemed+ explains how to assess the nature and seriousness of head injuries and exactly what to do if one of your passengers or crew is hurt. Doctor Ross has three decades of experience in the field of emergency medicine. His area of specialism is the provision of urgent medical care in remote locations and hostile environments. Clipper Telemed+ is a joint venture of Praxes Medical Group and Clipper Ventures, owners of the Clipper Round the World Race. These people really know what they’re talking about. Anyone contemplating a long voyage or an ocean crossing would do well to listen to this and other editions of Medical Emergencies at Sea. Sometimes you can’t call 911.

The importance of checking your instruments. Your marine surveyor almost certainly made sure that the instruments on your new boat were working but chances are he or she didn’t check if they were giving accurate readings. This latest edition of The Boat Galley from the inimitable Carolyn Shearlock includes great advice which could prevent catastrophe. Carolyn’s a straight shooter and she’s refreshingly unafraid of admitting to her own mistakes. Her expertise has been gained over many years of living aboard boats in the Sea of Cortez and the Caribbean. This is essential listening for boat owners and anyone contemplating boat ownership.

Skipper Sailing Club launched in Mallorca four years ago and it’s gone from strength to strength. Owner Jorge Sanz has five boats in two locations and, little by little, or poc a poc as they say in the Balearics, he expands each year. It’s important to him that he keeps that expansion slow and doesn’t lose sight of what’s most important: the personal touch. Jorge himself will take phone calls at 0300 if a club member is night fishing and runs into trouble, and he’s happy to take the helm if someone has a special request. He chatted to Mike McDowall aboard one of the Skipper Sailing Club boats at the Real Club Náutico de Palma.

Brandon Huebner takes a look at a few select cuneiform tablets from a collection known as the Amarna Letters. Discovered in Amarna, Egypt, these letters are a rare insight into the communication between the pharaoh and the rulers of many cities around the Bronze Age world. First, the king of Alasiya is forced to defend himself against accusations of piracy. This letter mentions the Lukkan pirates, perhaps the oldest reference to a pirate group in history. Our second letters come from Rib-Addi, the ruler of Byblos, a man under siege from both land and sea. Ultimately, the Amarna Letters help us better understand the Bronze Age Mediterranean around 1350 BCE.

Bob’s first guest this week is Kevin Ritz, lead instructor for the American Boat and Yacht Council. He’ll be talking about how to prevent electric shock drowning and what measures you need to take to make your dock and boat lights safe. Products under consideration this week include Caframo heating and cooling, Quick USA Nautical Equipment and the Aqua Lily Pad. Plus, Pete McDonald of Boating Magazine is in the studio celebrating the mag’s 60th anniversary. He’ll be talking about great boating inventions of the past six decades.

This weekend, celebrated singer Mick West is bringing a traditional Scottish ceilidh to Sóller. On Saturday night, the centre of the city will reverberate to the sound of bagpipes, harp, fiddle, stamping feet and, of course, Mick's haunting vocals.

Richard Mason, Operations Director at Volvo Ocean Race, has a unique perspective on the VOR, having been a competitor and onshore manager before being appointed to his current position. He spoke to Justin Chisholm about the new route, the controversial short first leg from Alicante to Lisbon and plans to make this race more interactive and immersive for fans than ever before. Sailing junkies lock your doors and switch off your phones – this is a GREAT listen.

Tom McClean’s about as tough a guy as you’ll ever meet. He’s also a true eccentric and a proper adventurer. He has crossed the Atlantic numerous times, sometimes in vessels no bigger than a bath tub. He has also crossed oceans in a giant bottle, complete with four-poster bed. His latest scheme is to sail from Britain to America in a giant steel sperm whale. He has built the boat himself and equipped it with powerful diesel engines, a large galley and comfortable accommodation for six. It also has a full-size bathroom and an open deck set into its back. Somewhat unbelievably, the whale can also squirt… No – wait – I’ll let Tom McClean tell you himself.

Born in New York and schooled in California, Don Krim now divides his time between the mountains of central Mexico and here, in the Sóller valley, where residents are too infrequently treated to his performances.