OBITUARY
RICHARD ATHOL RUSDEN SEPTEMBER 15, 1918 – JUNE 19, 2012
ANCIENT MARINER CROSSES THE BAR
BY ALAN PARTRIDGE O
ne of the South Pacific's best known ship owners passed away on the Gold Coast on June 19,
aged 93.
Athol Rusden, originally from Auckland, spent over 50 years at sea on yachts, doing boat deliveries and running a shipping company around the Pacific Islands. It was thanks to Athol's shipping company that quite a few ex New Zealand coasters were given an extended life, by being put to work in the island trades.
Most of the time life was very exciting for Athol and his wife Diane, doing
what they enjoyed most; working on the ocean and entertaining a wonderful selection of people including Sylvester Stallone
and Hayden Sterling. The biggest misfortune they suffered was when a deal to sell a million dollar boat went wrong, and even after the courts ruled in their favour, they never got their money.
Athol chronicled this incident and many others in his wonderful book, Rascals of the South Pacific. Although I had not known Athol for long it seemed like a life time, as every time I visited him he was always so bright and jovial and itching to talk about the old days and his life experiences at sea. He was one of
nature's true gentlemen and will be dearly missed. RIP Athol Rusden
VIP.S72 November/December 2012 Professional Skipper 9
