A little big boat, and a little boat, both for sale, predicting cyclones with turtles, Rockport restoration, why you should be at the AWBF, and more GRETEL momentum

Humans have always been in conflict with other animals over food sources and territorial rights. Take for example the constant attacks on villages in Africa and India by herds of elephants. The increased numbers of shark attacks in Australia probably has a slightly different root cause. And in North America grizzly and black bear attacks are becoming more common. But what makes the current Orca situation off the coast of Spain so different is the complete lack of factually based evidence for a motive.

“A man from one table would suddenly rise to his feet and stroll over to another, discussion would follow, argument at heat perhaps swiftly dissolving into laughter. This, I thought to myself, has been happening through the centuries under this same sky, in the warm air with a bite to it, the sap drink pungent as the sap running through the veins of these Greeks, witty and cynical as Aristophanes himself”

People describe him as quiet in a way that could feel a bit standoffish until you got to know him — not cold exactly, just someone who didn't waste words. Underneath that he was sharp with a dry humour, but fanatically disciplined about his work.

This episode comes to you from the island of LONGOS, PAXOS in GREECE. Links to stuff we discussed:
- This week's song - COLIN HAY - Waiting for my real life begin
- CORFU TOWN
- CAN I DRINK TAP WATER IN CORFU
- MARK'S NEAR MISS THUNDERSTORM
- MARINE TRAFFIC
- CEUTA UPDATE
- FIX THE NEWS
- BLUE CAVES - west coast Paxos
- O'MATHILDE - $500,000 per week ++
- I SEE DOCO LAB WINNER

Two outstanding vessels in excellent condition purchased for very reasonable money by modern younger people looking to find their analogue islands with a bit of friction maxxing thrown in to spice it up. I’m hoping this is a trend. My other crew members are green with envy.

CYAA events, BCYC Events. Catboat relaunch, the importance of eating at sea, and giving away a fortune.

Rose stopped in Melbourne to see his son, and was met by the Australian prime minister Harold Holt, who memorably disappeared later the same day after going for a swim. He also stopped for repairs at Bluff Harbour, New Zealand, before sailing to Cape Horn. He never got near India.

This episode comes to you from SIVOTA, GREECE + ROME.
Links to stuff we discussed:
- SIVOTA
- AN ABANDONNED VILLAGE - Brachonas
- THE ODYSSEY
- THE VIKING BOAT
- TRUCE(S) - Mark's film set in one room
- FIUME O MORTE! // RIVER OR DEATH
- THE INVITE
- MARK'S FAV ACTOR IN THE WORLD
- THE ECONOMIST interview with Elon Musk MONEY WON'T MATTER
- VEGAN DIETS VS MEAT HEAVY DIETS // YALE

An eclectic bunch of stories from Christopher Nolan’s latest to RGYC’s level of commitment. From Vertues the world over, to knots that we trust. And plenty more.

As heritage stockpiles are depleted a properly managed and sized BBWB is vital for the continuation of the boat building, maintenance and repair industry that currently adds $20 million annually to our State’s economy. 

You kept your star charts, your local tides, your moon phases, your dawns and dusks in your mind. You tracked stuff half in your head, half in your hands, half in your heart, half in your ass, and half in pages of your notebook or in scribbled margins of reference books.

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the intersection between comfort and satisfaction.  I suppose it’s been fuelled by spending time amongst the oversized, over-specced  and poorly considered boats that make up 90% of the Mediterranean cruising fleet. Extreme hardship is without doubt miserable, and extreme luxury is usually unrewarding but somewhere on this continuum, there is a sweet spot, a place where we balance our needs and our desires … a spot that’s probably different for everyone.

This episode comes to you from Sal in Rome and Mark in Orthoni. Yes we made it!
Links to stuff we discussed:
- ORTHONI AND CALYPSO'S CAVE
- MEDUSA
- PROTESTS IN VENICE
- SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA
- COURTESY FLAGS
- GARIBALDI- SQUASHED FLY BISCUIT
- 22 YEAR OLD POET - GOFFREDO MAMELI
- BRONZE STATUE AT VATICAN CITY

A great week of news with adventures a plenty, the death of the home kit king, technology overload and PETREL Part 17

The festival has to be one of Australia’s greatest community events. It’s run by a few talented professionals with the help of an army of volunteers. Every two years the Hobart waterfront comes alive for four days, with spontaneous and uncontrived joy. Nobody is hyping it up, nobody is making a packet, nobody has an axe to grind or a point to score and everyone, both sailors and non-sailors alike can revel in what is nowadays rare; a celebration of craft, community, and adventure. It’s proudly analogue, not digital, its about touch and smell and history and story telling. Nobody who understands this will ever be excluded.

We have just had proof, if it were ever needed, that SailGP is much more of a business, than it is a sporting event. Without any public explanation, the Coutts/Ellison circus has dropped Sydney as a venue for the 2027 season. 

Getting dressed seems to take ages when you are trying to get on deck quickly. Mid-layer salopettes, then boots, mid-layer jacket – yes, it's that cold – then foulie salopettes, tugging gently over the boots because pulling hard just jams them… Velcro-strap the ankle, and finally scarf, woollen gloves – eugh, still wet and cold, foul-weather jacket, harness, fur hat and then the gauntlets.

This episode comes to you from Roccella Ionica, Calabria.
Links to stuff we discussed:
- SYRACUSE, ARCHIMEDES AND THE SEIGE OF SYRACUSE
- UNOFFICIAL SPONSOR // LA ICONICA - Aussie Chicken empire - we applaud your place of birth!
- BOARDWALK - Owned by US Ambassador to Italy and significant Trump supporter - Tilman Fertitta - utterly offensive

Images from Sicily- “Throughout the history of the human race, no land and no people have suffered so terribly from slavery, from foreign conquests and oppression, and none have struggled so irrepressibly for emancipation as Sicily and the Sicilians.”-―Marx and Engels