ORCV Hutchwilco Melbourne to Stanley (M2S).

Young cap in The Cappers.

If you've been reading these miscellaneous ramblings for a while, you'll certainly know the term, "...going and sticking your nose in it - Bass Strait, that is!"

This one is a bit different. Not a whole boat, but a young lad by the name of Joshua Brooks-Duncan. He's going with Phil Bedlington and the gang we call The Cappers, on the Borensen named Under Capricorn. Josh has been cleared by The Brass to go in the Hutchwilco Melbourne to Stanley, as a result of his efforts and those of his mentors. We asked him the odd question and he was quite effusive for a teenage guy. "Six years ago, a friend of mine asked me one day if I would like to try out sailing, and I thought to myself, 'I'll give it a go!' Today, after completing the RBYC Sabot program, sailing 29ers and currently running in the Laser Radials, I am now preparing for my first major ocean race."

"The challenges of sailing in all conditions is what makes the sport interesting, always exciting and it is this that has always drawn me to it. Another aspect of sailing that I love, is the people you meet when travelling interstate to compete in various regattas. You seem to form great, hopefully, life-long friendships. The mind set of being free and away from noise and pollution also makes sailing relaxing at times", said Joshua.

"One Sunday afternoon, three years ago after a day of sailing in RBYC's Sabot program, I decided to approach the crew of Under Capricorn and ask them if I could sail with them, to broaden my sailing experiences and abilities. I was thirteen years of age at the time. After much deliberation by the team, due to my age, and after specific conditions were agreed upon, I was accepted on a probationary basis for a period six months. During that time, I sailed on a regular basis with the crew, where they trained and mentored me in all aspects of sailing the boat. After the six month probation period ended, I was presented with an Under Capricorn team shirt. This meant that I had now been accepted as an official crewmember", said a very elated Josh.

"I love sailing with Under Capricorn, as the racing is always exciting and rewarding. It is a great hoot to spend time with my fellow crewmembers being ionvolved in the sport we all share and love. Their encouragement and assistance has fueled my appetite for going sailing and in turn, I am set on achieving my goal of sailing in my first Melbourne to Hobart in 2012." Ed. Good work, lad!!! Plug, plug, plug....

Here are The Cappers during the 2011 M2G at the end of the Winter Series. Pic © to and courtesy of Teri Dodds.

Now I just bet I was not the only one to think, 'Hey, what does Mum think?' Well wish no more. Lorraine Brooks give us her perspective to ponder. "I reflect on the last six years of Joshua’s sailing passion and wonder where it comes from?! As a family, we do not have a history of sailing, as we've in fact seen in a lot of sailing families that we have met. However, we have always loved being near the sea. Perhaps that's it...", said Lorraine.

"When Joshua came home from school at the ripe old age of 10, and asked me if he could try out sailing at RBYC. I was certainly keen for him to do so, but never anticipated that today, I would be talking about him going ocean racing! I've watched him progress through the junior programs and his initial introduction to racing was one day it was suggested that Joshua borrow a loan Sabot and road trailer from RBYC and take it to Davies Bay to compete in the Davies Bay Cup. It was through the support of the fellow sailing parents who assisted me with the logistics and even down to tying the boat on to the trailer, that Joshua’s adventure even commenced! Since that day, Joshua has travelled all over the countryside, where he has competed in various regattas. At 13, Joshua told me that he would like to try sailing a keelboat, so I suggested he approach a club member and ask if he could go out sailing. Unbeknownst to me, Joshua already knew who he was going to approach and promptly did so. Initially, Joshua spoke with Andy Ward, who was his Sabot instructor at the time. After much deliberation between Andy, Phil Bedlington and Peter Jackson, it was agreed that he could sail with them on Under Capricorn for a six-month probation period, providing he followed certain rules and conditions", Lorraine explained.

"That was all the impetus Josh needed, for after that, he would go out every Wednesday evening and Saturday that was possible. As mentioned, soon that probation period was over and he was presented with hsi first crew shirt. "That day was an absolute milestone in Joshua’s life. He was told that he had become an accepted crew member and didn’t have to keep ringing Phil on a weekly basis to ask if they were going sailing! Joshua, has always had a huge respect for the crew of Under Capricorn. During his initial training period, there weren'tt any exceptions made for him. He had to be prepared to do like the others and be treated exactly the same. I must say, he has been well mentored and as a result of this, he has respect for the sea and a huge passion for sailing."

Of his impending foray into The Paddock, Lorraine was perhaps a little cautious, but I think she knew that just like the Borg, 'Resistance is futile!' "When Phil approached me some time ago about Joshua participating in the ORCV's race to Stanley, I was confident that he would be ready to take on this challenge. Many people have asked if I am apprehensive about this. The true answer is yes, but after watching him grow (and that is not just in height), I know that he is ready and he is sailing with a highly capable team. I can only thank the crew of Under Capricorn for making Joshua’s dreams and aspirations come true", Lorraine finished with.

Right then, we had 37 vessels in the M2S, but Chikara Outlaw withdrew a few days ago, so it's 36 now - Addiction, Alibi, Alien, Arch Rival, Bandit, Biddy Hu II, Cadibarra 8, Calm, Cavarlo, Dekadence, Dark and Stormy, Dry White, eXtasea, FullyNPushing, Gusto, Halcyon, Independent Endeavour, Jazz Player, Kiss Goodbye to MS, Magazan 53, Magic, Matrix, Mille Sabords, Mirrabooka, Nutcracker, Pretty Woman, Scarlet Runner, Slinky Malinky, Spirit of Downunder, Tevake II, Trybooking.com, Under Capricorn, Weekend Option, White Noise, XLR8 and Yoko, which is excellent. Well done and good luck to all.

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© John Curnow, ORCV Media

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