Sailing to the Moon: The Biography of Rolly Tasker, Australia’s Finest All-round Yachtsman

First Edition. Signed by Rolly Tasker. Roland Perry’s biography of Rolly Tasker captures the dramatic life of one of Australia’s greatest all-round yachtsman who won more races nationally and internationally than any other sailor. This fascinating biography covers his two world championship wins, the design and creation of the Siska yachts, his journeys in the wake of some of history’s finest explorers including Cook, Flinders and Bass as well as his personal challenges. Illustrated. #231215R/0618/0620/1020/010624 /0221/0721/281121/010624 340 p., [40] p. of plates : ill. (some col.), ports. ; 24 cm. “In more than sixty years of competition, Rolly Tasker never lost a yacht, a crew, or a rig, or retired from gear failure. During his career he sailed further than the distance to the moon. This is the story of a fascinating and, at times, controversial Australian sportsman.”

•  PART ONE: FLIGHT OF THE FALCON
• 1: The Art and Pain of Sportsmanship 14
• 2: Going for Gold 23
• 3: Born Boat Builder 40
• 4: Ground Zero 49
• 5: After the War that Wasn’t 55
• 6: The Amazing Falcon III 68
• 7: The National Fame Game 75
• 8: Operation Olympic Games 1956 86
• 9: Chuckles, Jest and Tears 96
• PART TWO: DUTCHMEN AND CATS
• 10: Hopes Alive with Falcon V 104
• S11: High-flying Dutchman 114
• 2: Boats, Bullets and Brigitte Bardot 125
• 13: See Naples and Cry 136
• 14: Crushed Again, then Boosted 144
• 15: Back on bop 152
• 16: Cup Fever: 1962 165
• 17: Kennedy, Cup and Calamity 175
• 18: You Only Live Twice 185
• I’ART-THREE: TO THE MAX
• 19: Beginning of the Siska Maxi Era 198
• 20: Sydney to Hobart: First ‘Dart’ 205
• 21: Around the Great South Land 217
• 22: Born to the Wild Sea 229
• 23: Siska IV Super-yacht 238
• 24: Good-time Charlie 256
• 25: In Pursuit of Stirling 266
• 26: To Freo and Beyond 275
• 27: Siska End-games 284
• 28: The Cup Runneth Over 294
• 29: Sea Changes 300
• 30: Thai Try 308
• 31: Tragedy, Trials and Tsunamis 321
• 32: The Tasker Legacy 327
• Acknowledgements 333
• Bibliography 334
• Index 335.
• Tasker, Rolly, 1927-
• Sailors — Australia — Biography
• Yachting
• Yacht racing