Phuket Yachting Legend Rolly Tasker Dies At 86

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Phuket yachting legend Rolly Tasker dies, at 86

Phuket Gazette

Renowned as a 'gentleman entrepreneur', Rolly Tasker (center) is pictured here in 2009 handing land documents to then Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop as he donates land for a new road to Phuket Airport. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Australian yachting icon and long-term Phuket resident Rolly Tasker has died, age 86.

Staff at the Rolly Tasker sail loft on Chao Fa West Road today confirmed that Mr Tasker passed away in Australia overnight (Phuket Time) after a long battle with cancer.

The general manager of the loft, Michael Tasker (no relation), who had been working for Mr Tasker for the past 15 years, described the reaction of the floor staff when he broke the news: “I wasn’t surprised by the outlet of emotion, but when you consider that the last time he was on the floor with them was September...[Well], I just called them together to tell them he passed away; and that was the reaction – tears.

“He had been an exceptional employer while he was here. And also he’s called ‘Papa’; that gives you an idea of how’s he looked upon by people on the floor.”

Michael Tasker told the Gazette that he, one of the workers on the floor, and another Thai member of staff would be flying to Australia to attend the funeral service.

“I want them to be able to tell the rest of the staff, when they come back, what happened and the occasion and everything else,” he explained.

Renowned as a gentlemen entrepreneur and adventurous yacht racer, Mr Tasker won Australia’s first sailing medal at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.

Among his many other accolades, he won his first world championship in 1958, dominated ocean racing off Western Australia for nearly two decades, and won many long-distance ocean races, including the 1979 Parmela Yacht Race from Plymouth, England, to Fremantle, Australia.

In total, he covered more than 340,000 nautical miles in ocean races.

Mr Tasker was inducted into Australia’s Sports Hall of Fame in honor of his sailing achievements, and was just recently named as Western Australia’s 'Best Ever Yachtsman'.

The Phuket Cruising Yacht Club honored his passing with the message on its website: “It goes without saying he will be missed by many clients and friends around the world… He was 86 when he died and going very strong until shortly before he died.

“He is going to be remembered as a great sailor, entrepreneur, businessman and sail-maker. Members of our club wish to send our condolences to his family.”

The club also posted a link to a video highlighting Rolly Tasker's remarkable achievements.

Mr Tasker is survived by his wife, Kerry, and his two children Sophie and Bobby.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle16244.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-06-23

[NomadJoe]

May he RIP.

[LivinginKata]

Sad to hear this. RIP Rolly

[Old Croc]

RIP Rolly. A great Aussie.

I remember, as a kid, driving past his first sail loft business in Stirling Hwy, Claremont (Perth). My parents pointed it out and talked with pride of his yachting feats.

He later moved his business to North Fremantle and eventually to Phuket.

Also remebered fondly was the time his super boat "Siska" was excluded from the Sydney-Hobart on a technicality, but he started anyway, 5 mins in front of the fleet. He beat them all to Hobart by more than 20 hours!

Many will miss you.

[supaprik]

Yes an Australian icon, will be sadly missed by many...R.I.P.

[HuaHinHim]

I remember sweeping the floor at Rolly Tasker Sails in North Fremantle just before Australia won the Americas cup. I didn't do it for money I did it because Rolly organised free entry into the roller skating rink there and it was the place to get the girls for a while. He was a great guy. RIP

[jaapfries]

Rolly Tasker was a legend in his own time.

Not only in OZ, but, in fact, all over the world ! !

Having grown-up in Holland, Rolly Tasker was a "household-word" amongst sailers there.

During my 15 years in Canada (Vancouver), Rolly Tasker 'followed' me there and of course, the subsequent 10 years in NZ as well.

Then I came to beautiful Thailand and was, somehow, not all that surprised that the 'household-word' held here also; ergo: Rolly had set-up shop in Phuket and remains the premium Sailmaker & Rigging Design Institution until today.

Then I purchased a small Trailer-Sailer recently . . . . . You'll never guess who actually designed this Court-550 little beauty: exactly; it was, once again, Mr. Rolly Tasker who created this brilliant little boat: TS550 built by Court Yachts 131 Sterling Highway, Nedlands WA, Designed by Rolly Tasker around 1978 !! !! !!

I feel very fortunate to be able to own this great little sailer, which embodies a lot of the spirit of this great man !

Hereby a Picture of that Rolly Tasker creation:

I've named it: "Bangthee" ("Maybe")

[Valentine]

It seems like he built up a really good world class business here in Phuket & treated the employees very well. I wonder what happened to the land he donated as we do not seem to hear anymore news about the road.

[sportsman69]

It seems like he built up a really good world class business here in Phuket & treated the employees very well. I wonder what happened to the land he donated as we do not seem to hear anymore news about the road.

Let's not go there..............