Welcome to SWS
Finally a place where you’ll find news, information and
discussion around timber sailing boats.
Meet the Team
Mark Chew
Mark Chew wandered into the bar on a Wednesday evening at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron about 30 years ago. (This is not the opening line of a joke). He got a ride on a boat called AGGRO that night and ended up sailing offshore with the crew for a few years including 50th S2H and 25th M2H plus lots of Bass Strait crossings. But more importantly it was on this boat that he met the people who were to influence his sailing life most profoundly, and still look after him when he voyages in his 1956 Philip Rhodes designed and A&R built sloop, FAIR WINDS. Mark and his wife Sal have been the custodians of FAIR WINDS for 23 years now her home is at RMYS when she is occasionally in Melbourne. Under their guidance she has crossed the Tasman three times, circumnavigated Tasmania and traversed the full length of Eastern seaboard at least four times. A trip back to NZ and the Pacific was planned just as Covid hit so after being stuck in Sydney for almost two years FAIR WINDS is now on her north, perhaps to the pacific. When not sailing, Mark spends his time working as a photographer and being an active board member of the AWBF
to contact Mark - helm@southernwoodenboatsailing.com
Sal Balharrie
Sailing for Sal began with windsurfing, a summer pursuit at Queenscliff, far from the farm on which she grew up. At 23 she and Mark bought a tiny boat, took the mast down and motored it through the French canals and sailed in the Med for a year, circumnavigating Corsica and Sardinia. It was around this time they ran out of money and took jobs as Flotilla Leaders based in Corfu with a fleet of 14 boats for which they were responsible. Then children which meant sailing became holidays on boats - aboard COTTON BLOSSOM and then FAIR WINDS. In 2019, while working in Italy, Sal had the profound desire to buy her own boat, plastic yes, but an incredible venture none the less. NO MAN’S LAND RACING takes place on a Sydney 38 with an all girl crew of novice sailors. And what pays the bills? Outside of SWS, Sal is a writer for film, television and publication. So what pays the bills? Her first novel, created much like SWS, during the year of lockdown, will be published in 2024.
to contact Sal - sail@southernwoodenboatsailing.com
For over 25 years, the small team behind SWS have been passionate sailors and supporters of wooden boats in Australia and New Zealand.
Throughout this time, we’ve become increasingly aware of a huge grass roots interest in this part of the world for the culture, history and practise of sailing and using these special craft.
While there are plenty of niche organisations doing a wonderful job keeping their particular interests going, there has never been a dedicated place to turn to for all the news information and discussion around timber sailing boats.
SWS aims to be that place.
We are also very conscious that this particular corner of the sailing world is dominated by men, generally in their later years! Our aim is to positively encourage young people, especially women, to sail, work on, study and treasure the wooden boats of Australasia and to join in the conversation.
We invite you to enjoy our stories, podcasts and films and to get involved with our community as it evolves and expands. We hope you will share with us your projects and sailing adventures and join in the discussions via the COMMENTS section at the base of each article, with an open mind and generous heart.
You can also follow us on instagram. Click on any of the images below.
@southern.woodenboat.sailing
