After a long season comprising of some tough offshore races and over 1000nm, the General Lee Team have claimed Western Australia’s top prize – the coveted Siska trophy.
The SISKA TROPHY, originally the “Golden Fleece Trophy”, was commissioned by the Golden Fleece Oil Company for the 1978 “Great Circle Yacht Race” around Tasmania, a distance of 810 nautical miles. It was won by SISKA, owned and sailed by Rolly Tasker. In 1988 Rolly Tasker rededicated it as the “SISKA TROPHY”. He presented the magnificent trophy, to be awarded annually, to the most outstanding yacht in the Western Australian Offshore Yacht Racing Series, and is awarded to the top Scoring yacht in the Blue Water Championship on IRC.
Rolly Tasker built and raced 5 offshore yachts named SISKA and over a 15 year period from the 1970s won almost every race on the WA Offshore Calendar, usually taking fastest time as well. Some of these times have not been bettered. SISKA’s competed in Sydney-Hobart Races, the infamous 1979 Fastnet Race, the Parmelia Race and the first Bali Race in 1981. Rolly Tasker passed away in June 2012 at the age of 86.
The team was disappointed having missed the first 235nm Naturaliste Race, which left them with a discard straight off the bat, and a grind to get back in the points for the season. Strong performances in the Coventry Reef Race (1st), Bunbury Return Race (1st), Iberia Race 2nd, Jurien Race (1st), Geraldton Race (3rd) and Geraldton Return Race (2nd) got the General over the line to be crowned Champion boat.
Now, just a week after the final 220 mile Bluewater Championship race the team are busy preparing for the 1448nm Fremantle – Bali Race…the General being the smallest boat in the race. The boys will have a bit on to topple the maxi yacht Tokalosh off on IRC – time to buckle up and stamp on the gas!
