PHUKET: The name of legendary Phuket sailor and sailmaker Rolly Tasker is to be perpetuated in the annual Fremantle to Bali Race and Rally, the Western Australian state government has announced.
Next year's race beginning May 4 will honor Tasker's yachting successes and his links as patron and inaugural race record holder, reports sail-world.com
Deputy Premier Dr Kim Hames announced the government's establishment of the Rolly Tasker Memorial Trophy for Line Honors in the Wonderful Indonesia Fremantle to Bali Race and Rally that now attracts local, national and international entries to the event.
Tasker's yacht Siska took line honors in 1981 with the record standing for 30 years until it was broken just last year.
Rolly Tasker died in Australia on June 22 aged 86. His self-named sailmaking loft on Phuket employs hundreds of Phuket workers.
Australia's first Olympic yachting medalist and a yachting legend who raced in many major races in his series of four bright red Siska yachts, Tasker made an art form of creating and smashing line honor records.
Bob Kucera, Fremantle Sailing Club Commodore and a participant in both the 1981 and 2011 races, said the announcement of the memorial trophy was a fitting honor that would cultivate even more interest in the event.
''Rolly was an extraordinary West Australian yachtsman. He was an internationally recognised sailor and sailmaker whose passion for the sport of sailing and determination to succeed was an inspiration for yachtsmen not only in WA but world-wide,' Mr Kucera said.
John Bertrand, skipper of Australia II's America's Cup win and chair of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, said Rolly had been an early supporter and sailing inspiration and a trophy that recognised and honored his continued quest for line honors was a perfect fit for the WA sailing legend.
Next year's biennial Wonderful Indonesia Fremantle to Bali Race and Rally expects to attract a fleet of 50 or more ocean going yachts.
Next year's race beginning May 4 will honor Tasker's yachting successes and his links as patron and inaugural race record holder, reports sail-world.com
Deputy Premier Dr Kim Hames announced the government's establishment of the Rolly Tasker Memorial Trophy for Line Honors in the Wonderful Indonesia Fremantle to Bali Race and Rally that now attracts local, national and international entries to the event.
Tasker's yacht Siska took line honors in 1981 with the record standing for 30 years until it was broken just last year.
Rolly Tasker died in Australia on June 22 aged 86. His self-named sailmaking loft on Phuket employs hundreds of Phuket workers.
Australia's first Olympic yachting medalist and a yachting legend who raced in many major races in his series of four bright red Siska yachts, Tasker made an art form of creating and smashing line honor records.
Bob Kucera, Fremantle Sailing Club Commodore and a participant in both the 1981 and 2011 races, said the announcement of the memorial trophy was a fitting honor that would cultivate even more interest in the event.
''Rolly was an extraordinary West Australian yachtsman. He was an internationally recognised sailor and sailmaker whose passion for the sport of sailing and determination to succeed was an inspiration for yachtsmen not only in WA but world-wide,' Mr Kucera said.
John Bertrand, skipper of Australia II's America's Cup win and chair of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, said Rolly had been an early supporter and sailing inspiration and a trophy that recognised and honored his continued quest for line honors was a perfect fit for the WA sailing legend.
Next year's biennial Wonderful Indonesia Fremantle to Bali Race and Rally expects to attract a fleet of 50 or more ocean going yachts.
Remembering Rolly Tasker, Australian Sailing Legend, a short bio-docufilm
http://www.videosurf.com/evideo/2_oG4WLUi6ngo?src=no_rf_yt
Posted by Kerrie on July 6, 2012 22:24