Rigging a 29-Metre Ketch in Phuket
23. January 2025
We are Rolly Tasker Sails, founded in Australia. Located in Thailand. With a German CEO. Sounds interesting? Well, we are! Let us tell you how all this came about.
He was one of Australia’s most accomplished racing sailors, winning the first ever Olympic medal in sailing for his country in 1956 (Silver), as well as numerous World Championships in several classes before embarking on an equally successful career as offshore racing yachtsman. Already since 1949, he had been making his own sails and soon also began selling them, building a thriving business.
For us, Rolly was more than an outstanding yachtsman and our founder. He became a friend and our ideal with his drive and passion for the company and the sails he made, always striving to provide the best quality for money and supplying performance sails at reasonable prices for cruising sailors everywhere.
German yachtsman, sailmaker and business executive Sven Cornelius met Rolly many years ago when ordering new sails for his boat. Sven then became German dealer for Rolly Tasker Sails, but soon the relationship between the two sailors developed from pure business into a deep friendship as they discovered a special kind of kinship in their views.
Before Rolly passed away in 2012, he asked Sven to become his successor in running the company and in 2016, Sven became CEO of Rolly Tasker Sails. Since then, Sven has run Rolly Tasker Sails truly in Rolly’s spirit.
Following the wish of the late Rolly Tasker and his widow Kerry, the new CEO has now acted upon a management buy-out scheme that had already been planned by the Taskers years ago. Sven is now owner of the company, which retains close personal ties with Rolly’s family and also remains a privately owned business. Sven and his enthusiastic team of young sail-making professionals will continue to develop the company according to Rolly’s original vision: Quality and customers first!
Rolly Tasker Sails operates from the world’s largest, purpose-built sailloft in Phuket, Thailand, which was opened in 2006. We export to all “corners” of the globe wherever boats and yachts are being sailed.
Accordingly, you will find a local Rolly Tasker Sails loft or representative in almost all major yachting areas around the world, from Norway to Australia and from California to Israel. You can order and buy all your sails directly from this website, or choose to contact your nearest local dealer, who can, of course, also help you with all your queries. In any case, your sails will be crafted to the highest quality standards in our state-of-the-art sail loft in Phuket.
Rolly Tasker Sails is truly the global brand of top-quality sails with many local contacts to help you choose the perfect set of sails for your boat.
We strive to deliver sails of the highest quality at very competitive prices. We can deliver fast and reliably anywhere around the world.
Our highest goal is to meet, and exceed, even your highest expectations. Happy customers are the best, rock-solid foundation of our business and the most credible ambassadors for Rolly Tasker Sails worldwide.
Delivering exceptional quality at very reasonable prices guarantees best value for money for you. This has always been the core driving force at Rolly Tasker Sails and is probably one of the reasons that has made us the global market leaders in cruising sails with more than 2.6 million sails made and delivered so far.
Boats and sailing yachts of nearly every description are powered by Rolly Tasker Sails around the globe. Be it for inshore, family pottering fun; for competitive club racing events, for reliably cruising or even for the longest and most demanding ocean passages.
Performance cruising sails by Rolly Tasker Sails will always get you there. Fast enough to win races, reliable enough to cross oceans.
All our sails are made to ISO Standard Quality Control.
The current Rolly Tasker sailloft was initially opened in 2006, but the production facilities are constantly upgraded and modernised. This is advanced sailmaking, blending cutting-edge technology and highly skilled, traditional craftsmanship together to make best quality sails.
Our sailloft is purpose built, designed for the best working environment in sailmaking. This includes a modern building with an economic, eco-friendly air condition system and first-rate facilities for our staff. It also means an always open door to welcome our local customers, who can enjoy a snack and a coffee whilst taking in the atmosphere, talk sails and actually see our sailmakers at work.
Our sailloft in Phuket, Thailand, is right at the heart of the South East Asia region’s marine business. Phuket is also one of the world’s major hubs for long-term cruising and voyaging yachts of all nations and offers a truly excellent yachting infrastructure and services. It is also easy to reach with daily flights from Phuket International Airport to worldwide destinations. Exporting our sails to more than 60 countries worldwide could not be easier.
Our computer-aided sail design is optimized through the state-of-the-art 3D sail design software SMAR Azure. This is sailmaking in the 21st century with the highest demands in sail shape efficiency, but also maximum production effectiveness for the minimum in environmental impact. To this end, we also use a modern autonesting software for the most efficient use of sailcloth panels, thus reducing fabric waste to a minimum.
Different types of sails and designs need to be made from different types of sailcloth. We always have a large selection of premium sailcloth from the world’s leading suppliers in stock, on about two kilometres total length of shelving. We always have the perfect type of sailcloth for each of our carefully designed sails available.
For example, for our popular inshore, coastal and offshore cruising sails, we use Premium Dacron sailcloth such as Marblehead, Newport High Modulus, Warp Drive, or Fastnet.
The best fabric for offshore performance cruising or tougher club racing are cruising laminates such as Contender CDX Pro in White or Cool Grey.
Even more demanding performance cruisers or racers might choose Dimension Polyant Lite Skin Polyester or Aramid for best shape holding, while at the same time being tougher and more durable than most membranes.
The classic Spinnaker nylon used by us is made by Challenge Sailcloth or Bainbridge.
For canvas work, sail covers, UV strips and similar use we stock the formidable UV protection Sunbrella fabric. To ensure the best UV resistance, we also use UV treated sewing threads.
For us as a modern sailmaker, efficient sailmaking governs the entire production process from the initial order to delivery. It begins with purchasing sailcloth and other materials in bulk, made possible by the high turnaround and the huge storage capacities at our purpose-built loft in Phuket.
As a very large sailmaker, we produce much more than just the sails in house. Most of the necessary sail hardware and fittings are made with our latest plastic injection moulding machines. Even the ropes that are used for leech lines, luff tapes and many other purposes are produced on our own rope braiding machines. And for maximum efficiency, we standardise the sail construction details as far as possible. Parts such as luff-tapes, batten pockets and many more are pre-produced by our experienced sailmakers and then fed into the production process.
For our vision of modern and efficient sailmaking, we use the latest technology wherever it makes sense to do so. This includes state-of-the-art laser plotting for the highest accuracy when cutting the panels, or computer aided design. This is not only for the best possible sail design and shape, but also for the most efficient nesting of panels to reduce fabric waste. Smooth sail production is also guaranteed by reliable, heavy-duty sewing machines to the highest industrial standards such as Adler, Pfaff or Solent.
Our wide range of ready to sail, pre-fabricated sails is another obvious way to increase efficiency and pass on reduced production costs to our customers. We can efficiently produce some sails in large quantities for our stock, such as versatile Code C reaching sails, ready-made spinnakers, and storm sails. Whilst there is no compromise in overall quality, the standardised production process for these sails makes it possible to offer unbeatable value for money.
Finally, even the waste does not entirely go to waste. We use remaining offcuts of sailcloth or sunbrella canvas material to make our sail-bags. After all, as passionate sailors we really do care for our environment!
The quality of a sail is also determined by the sum of its detailing. In this respect, we are a very traditional sailmaker as we pay immense attention even to the finest detail. All of these will have to stand up to harsh conditions and, maybe, rough handling at sea in all weather and this is where the fine craftsmanship by our very experienced and skilled, long-term sailmaker staff members really pays off.
Our sails are delivered world-wide through our ever-growing export business. In many of the world’s yachting centres, we have representatives who will be happy to assist you and answer any questions in sails, rigging or deck hardware.
We prioritize quality and sustainability, as it directly influences not only our customers' satisfaction and safety but also the well-being of our sailmakers and the environment. Sailing is an experience in nature, which is why crafting sails should be done with the future of our planet in mind.
In our sail-loft in Phuket, we make new sails – and offer other services for anything from the deck up on your sailing boat:
We also have an extensive network of local dealers around the world, bringing our service nearer to you.
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