MATILDA RADIO

SAL BALHARRIE and MARK CHEW

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Writer and filmmaker Sal + photographer Mark have a five-year plan to sail their Swan 47 MATILDA from Palma, Spain, back to Sydney, Australia. This is a podcast sharing the wonder and realities of living your dream while maintaining their careers, a marriage and a 50-year-old boat. Next episode out end of October, 2026.

6d ago

17 Under The Light Of The Moon

WELCOME TO MATILDA RADIO A weekly podcast from two mad Australians who gave up living the norm to live the dream // This episode comes to you MAHON, MENORCA. Back in our beloved Mahon. In this the penultimate episode of MATILDA RADIO SEASON ONE, we recap what surprised and delighted, disappointed about the places we have been; what we love and what we find frustrating about Matilda. While Mark goes back to Australia, we'll be taking a break for a couple of weeks. Next Episode - end of October What's Sal reading and watching:- WE WERE FORBIDDEN by Jacqueline Harpman What's Mark reading and watching:- YOU ARE HERE by David Nicholls Got a question for Mark and Sal - send us an email:Sal - sal@salbalharrie.com andMark - helm@southernwoodenboat.com
Sep 28

16 Surviving the Straits of Bonifacio

WELCOME TO MATILDA RADIO A weekly podcast from two mad Australians who gave up living the norm to live the dream // This week we survived the Straits of Bonifacio - no thanks to Reckmann! Links to stuff we discussed:- History of Bonifacio Got a question for Mark and Sal - send us an email:Sal - sal@salbalharrie.com andMark - helm@southernwoodenboat.com
Sep 24

15 WE DID IT! The Rolex Swan Cup

WELCOME TO MATILDA RADIO A weekly podcast from two mad Australians who gave up living the norm to live the dream // We are proud, we are humbled, we loved every minute. The Rolex Swan Cup. Incredible. Links to stuff we discussed:- THE ROLEX SWAN CUP IN PORTO CERVO- Swan on Instagram- Results No reading, no watching, just sailing. Got a question for Mark and Sal - send us an email:Sal - sal@salbalharrie.com andMark - helm@southernwoodenboat.com
Sep 13

14 AND WE ARE RACING!

WELCOME TO MATILDA RADIO It's a different week here at Matilda Radio, while we compete in the ROLEX SWAN CUP.We are focused and maybe we are ready....rules for the week: 1. Safety. 2. Fun. 3. Focus.Let's talk about it. Links to stuff we discussed:- ROLEX SWAN CUP- ROGER FEDERER - Career Points Breakdown Total Points Won: 54.1% (127,702 won out of 236,038 played) Total Points Lost: 45.9% (108,336 lost) Matches Won: 81.9% (1,245 wins out of 1,520–1,526 recorded singles matches) Got a question for Mark and Sal - send us an email:Sal - sal@salbalharrie.com andMark - helm@southernwoodenboat.com
Sep 7

13 From The Island of Stromboli

WELCOME TO MATILDA RADIO A weekly podcast from two mad Australians who gave up living the norm to live the dream // This episode comes to you from Sardinia after a 48 hour crossing back from Sicily. Off the back of a question from a listener, we ask the question - WHY GO? Why go/come to Europe to charter a boat? Next May / June? Where to go and what to avoid and one sure fire planning tool to help you plan and dream. Links to stuff we discussed:- VULCANO- LIPARI AND PUMICE- FILACUDI- PREDICT WIND- IT IS THE ROLEX SWAN CUP (RSC)- ROLEX SWAN CUP 2026 - PREVIEW AND THAT'S MATILDA AT 38 SECS! - COLLECT BOAT IN MAO/MAHON - ES GRAU - FORNELLS - PREGONDA - NORTH COAST - CITUADELLA - SOUTH COAST - CALA EN PORTER - MAO - BALEARIC ISLANDS - DAVID & SUSIE BAGGALEY- NAVILY - THE MOST INNOVATIVE CRUISING GUIDE - USE NAVILY TO PLAN AND DREAM! What's Sal reading and watching:- The things we never say // Elizabeth Strout- The Artist // Lucy Steed What's Mark reading and watching:- What We Can Know by Ian McEwan Got a question for Mark and Sal - send us an email:Sal - sal@salbalharrie.com andMark - helm@southernwoodenboat.com
Aug 31

12 So this is the best one.

WELCOME TO MATILDA RADIO A weekly podcast from two mad Australians who gave up living the norm to live the dream // This episode comes to you while sailing from Scilla, Calabria across to Vulcano on the Aeolian Islands! Links to stuff we discussed:- Da da? WHAT THE HELL IS SAL TALKING ABOUT?- ANOTHER WEEK OF NAVY BLUES- THIS WEEK'S UNOFFICIAL SPONSOR // THE Z HUT- EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VULCANO- THE SCHYLLA, CHARYBDIS AND NAUSICA - THE STRAITS OF MESSINA- FLEABAG / THE PERFECTION THAT IS- SOUTHERN WOODENBOAT SAILING What's Sal reading and watching:- SEASCRAPER by Benjamin Wood What's Mark reading and watching:- WHAT WE CAN KNOW by Ian McEwan Got a question for Mark and Sal - send us an email:Sal - sal@salbalharrie.com andMark - helm@southernwoodenboat.com
Aug 23

11 Fiasco in Fiskardo

WELCOME TO MATILDA RADIO A weekly podcast from two mad Australians who gave up living the norm to live the dream // This episode comes to you from SIRACUSA, SICILY this week we crossed back from Greece to mainland Italy and now in Sicily. SONG OF THE WEEK - DRAFT DAUGHTERS BLUES by BE GOOD TANYAS Links to stuff we discussed:- FISKARDO - LIVE WEBCAM- TIM & PAULINE CARR WORLD SAILORS- LIN & LARRY PARDY WORLD SAILORS - KATABATIC WIND EXPLAINED- ROCELLA IONICA DETENTION FACILITY- ROLEX SWAN CUP- KAKUMA REFUGE CAMP - ANNIE'S EASTER MIX // PLAYLIST- I SEE DOCO LAB- SOUTHERN WOODENBOAT SAILING What's Sal reading?- The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji and here's a review - sorry for the recommendation Book Group :) Want to join next book group? September 28. WhatsApp Sal - +61417352673 What's Mark reading?- What We Can Know by Ian McEwan Got a question for Mark and Sal - send us an email:Sal - sal@salbalharrie.com andMark - helm@southernwoodenboat.com
Aug 17

10 Bazza's a bit famous

WELCOME TO MATILDA RADIO A weekly podcast from two mad Australians who gave up living the norm to live the dream // This episode comes to you from FRIKES, ITHACA Links to stuff we discussed:- LEVAKAS CANAL- SPARTAHORI / SPILIA TAVERNA- SKORPIOS - JACKIE'S ISLAND- PERSEIDS 2026 COMETS IN GREECE- SOUTHERN IONIAN- SOUTHERN WOODENBOAT SAILING What's Sal reading and watching:- The Persian's by Sanam Mahloudji- The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage What's Mark reading and watching:- Seascraper by Benjamin Wood Got a question for Mark and Sal - send us an email:Sal - sal@salbalharrie.com andMark - helm@southernwoodenboat.com

Writer and filmmaker Sal + photographer Mark have a five-year plan to sail their Swan 47 MATILDA from Palma, Spain, back to Sydney, Australia. This is a podcast sharing the wonder and realities of living your dream while maintaining their careers, a marriage and a 50-year-old boat. Next episode out end of October, 2026.

Creator

SAL BALHARRIE and MARK CHEW
Years Active

2026
Episodes

17
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 SOUTHERN WOODENBOAT SAILING
Show Website

MATILDA RADIO