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          Welcome to the Tallship "Joshua C"   

 

 

Robin crewed barges for about five years before moving to the Sunshine Coast and started building again, ferries for Noosa and Caloundra. Robin liked the design of classic island traders and taking the best features from four of them he started the design of his ideal cruising ship. He was familiar with building fibre glass boats and confident with its suitability for his purpose. While he was building his cruise boat Robin continued for another five years to build commercial ferries.

 

Professional and accredited shipwright he laid the Keel in 1991. In 2004 Robin launched THE JOSHUA C thirteen years & nearly 3160 hours  in creation. THE JOSHUA C - a Tall Ship - Schooner - was designed and hand built from the keel up by Robin.

                                

Solid GRP with a lovely Brush Box timber finish down below. State room and Navigation centre in the stern, moving forward Double cabin then the Saloon & Galley, Double  berth forward with four single bunks.

                             

 

The Joshua C is Schooner rigged with steel masts and is driven by a Mainsail, Yankee and three Staysails. The 180 HP GM 471 x 4 cylinder diesel engine is located under the hinged state room Double bed.

 

 

 

Robin met Annette Keller from Melbourne after she moved to the Sunshine Coast in 1989. Annette is a keen Outrigger paddler part of a successful paddling team known as Panamuna – Snr Master Women’s for over 9 years. Over a period of three years they raced Nationals 2006 at Townsville and attained second place in the Coff’s Harbour Nationals in 2007. Annette has also raced at Hamilton Island 16 km and 42 km along with many successes during this period. She has sailed boats since she was eight with her father and has had some years as a Life Saver at Parkdale Life saving club. Annette joined Robin on the boat in October 2007.

 

In April 2008 Robin and Annette moved the boat from a jetty on Petrie Creek off McDonalds Rd up to the Maroochy River just north of Channel Island to be ready to take advantage of good weather and a tide over two metres. April 20, 2008 tides and weather were currently not suitable and at Pete and Diane’s invitation they moved onto the jetty at Bradman Ave.

 

On the 29th of April Robin and Annette were married in on board THE JOSHUA C attended by guests on board and onshore by a small crowd of onlookers.

While waiting for suitable tides Robin and Annette started to complete some of the finishing work on the boat - between visitors who were made most welcome.

 

In June they moved the boat down river to anchor in a partially sheltered position opposite the Cotton Tree Caravan Park.

 

Amidst breaks between heavy rain and strong winds they continued to work on the boat. Storms had changed the sand spit and bars near the mouth of the Maroochy River making it impossible to cross the bar during the first half of June.

The changes to the sand bar and some of the worst storms seen for many months had them battling to finish

THE JOSHUA C in conditions that were trying to say the least.

 

They spent one memorable night caught in a huge whirl pool caused by raging water breaking a channel across the Cotton Tree sand bar. This had the boat swinging around the anchor in a full circle at about three knots for some two hours during the night!

 

THE JOSHUA C qualifies as a Tall Ship and has attracted enormous interest from fellow boaties and Sunshine Coast holiday makers alike.

Robin and Annette Cooke are planning to provide an opportunity for boat interested visitors to come aboard their ship prior to departing north for visits to northern Queensland ports, Louisiades, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

 

After some weeks Robin and Annette made a trial crossing of the Maroochydore river mouth touching the river bottom in the process. The Joshua C was pushed sideways onto the sandbank by the river mouth current thought to be about four knots. They dropped anchor in the main channel - Robin was going to take advantage of the first opportunity to make a break for it.

The wind and swell eased late monday afternoon and a further attempt was made on Monday 16 June at dusk - assisted by some prayers and a small seasoned crew.

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This time it was successful.  "We copped four waves crossing the bar just on dusk" "The Joshua C's bowsprit rose alarmingly as she headed through the swells and then settled peacefully once clear"

 

Robin and Annettes exultation with this milestone coupled with The Joshua C finally free from the bondage of the Maroochydore river and feeling the sea under her keel at last can only be imagined. What a great feeling for all those who have followed Robin's epic project.

"We want to be in Cairns by September" The Joshua C was seen by many as she headed north on the first stage of their journey.

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A proud Tall Ship - graceful and at ease on the sea.

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Robin has for many years planned to do volunteer work in the islands up north.

Please see the Donations page for details on the DVD package

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