Please select your home edition
Edition
sMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZ

Australian sailing legend Rolly Tasker sails away

by The Sail-World Team on 22 Jun 2012
Rolly Tasker - National Sail Supply SW
West Australian Rolly Tasker, an Australian sailing legend died at 2am this morning in Perth at the age of 86. He is survived by Kerry, his third wife.


Rolland 'Rolly' Tasker AM, was born on 21st March 1926. He started sailing at age six and won Australia’s first ever Olympic sailing medal at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. He and Malcolm Scott won a silver medal in their 12m2 Sharpie and in 1958 Tasker won the Flying Dutchman World Championship.

He operated a sailmaking business on Stirling Highway in the 1950s, which later moved to North Fremantle and he established a sail-making business Rolly Tasker Sails in Phuket, Thailand which employs around 400 staff.

From 1969 to 1985 Tasker dominated ocean racing in Western Australia with five sister yachts all called Siska.

In the 1978 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, Siska IV was denied official starter status on a technicality. Tasker started five minutes ahead of the fleet and crossed the finish line 20 hours ahead of line honours winner Apollo.

He won Division A in the disastrous 1979 Fastnet race. In the Parmelia Yacht Race from Plymouth to Fremantle in 1979 he took line honours and the handicap victory.

His performance in the inaugural Fremantle-Bali race in 1981 stood for 30 years. He took line honours in a time of six days, 15 hours and 39 minutes for the 1440 nautical mile course.

'He didn't just win it, he almost beat the race committee there,' according to Bernie Kaaks, media director of the race of which Tasker became patron.

'What's more, his race record stood until it was beaten last year by a state-of-the art all carbon fibre 62ft yacht with a hardened race crew.'

Tasker was inducted into the Western Australian Hall of Champions in 1986 and the Sport Australian Hall of Fame in 1996. He became a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006 for his services to sailing.

In April 2008 Tasker opened The Australian Sailing Museum in Mandurah with exhibits of the America's Cup races from 1851 and famous sailors from Australian sailing competitions.

Twelve life-like icons of the sailing world form part of the display, along with over 200 1/12th model yacht fleet class examples.

His biography, 'Sailing to the Moon was published in 2008.

He passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home on the Mandurah canals at 2am on 22nd June 2012. Tasker is survived by his third wife Kerry.














sMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZVaikobi 2024 DecemberPantaenius Sail 2025 AUS Footer

Related Articles

A more sustainable Transat Café L'OR edition
The race aims to be innovative and a driving force for the transitions taking place in ocean racing For the upcoming 17th edition, the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR Le Havre Normandie is stepping up its commitments to take better care of the earth's climate and the natural, living planet.
Posted today at 10:28 am
Engedinwing 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup preview
The world's most daring wingfoilers are heading for the heights... literally The world's most daring wingfoilers are heading for the heights - literally - as the Ensis ENGEDINWING 2025 WingFoil Racing World Cup Switzerland descends on lake Silvaplana.
Posted today at 9:19 am
Diverse maxi fleet ready for Loro Piana Giraglia
Inshore/coastal racing prior to the event's famous offshore race to Genoa The International Maxi Association's 2025 Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge (MMIC) continues tomorrow, Saturday 7 June with the first of four days of inshore/coastal race of Loro Piana Giraglia, organised by the Yacht Club Italiano
Posted today at 9:04 am
Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta day 1
Wet and windy start Rain, a forecast for 20 plus knots with gusts and a cold day on Port Phillip didn't dampen the enthusiasm of those here sailing on Day 1 of the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR)
Posted today at 9:02 am
Marine Auctions: June online auctions
Bidding to open on Friday 20th June The Bidding for the June Online Auction will commence on Thursday 20th June and will end on Thursday 26th June at 2pm AEST.
Posted today at 5:19 am
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 3
Nicole Breault and Allie Blecher to meet in the final USA's Nicole Breault / Vela Racing and Allie Blecher / Team Baam have both advanced to the final of the Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, the second stage of the 2025 Women's World Match Racing Tour championship.
Posted today at 4:48 am
Avoid sail damage - Sail Exchange's free guide
How you handle your sails matters It's that time of year when the world splits—down south, we're packing sails away for winter, while up north, it's all hands on deck getting ready for a new season.
Posted today at 4:28 am
Scandinavian Gold Cup at Sopot, Poland Day 2
Three boats are now through to the final stage Three boats are now through to the final stage of the Scandinavian Gold Cup in Sopot, Poland. Aspire, Marie-Françoise XXII and Artemis (NOR 57, Kristian Nergaard, Johan Barne Trond, Solli-Sæther) have each won one race each.
Posted today at 1:48 am
Hamilton Island Race Week Accommodation Deals
Our most popular race week properties available now at reduced rates Hamilton Island Race Week is fast approaching and if you're quick, we have some prime race week viewing spots available where you can watch some of the world's best racing yachts sail by and be close to all the celebrations.
Posted on 6 Jun
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 4
Bergmann with Wille keep their nerve to move into FX lead Olympic veterans in the 49erFX Marla Bergmann with Hanna Wille (GER) kept their nerve and used their speed to move into the lead, scoring the fewest points on day 4.
Posted on 6 Jun