The tuna for this year's John West tuna toss are rigged up and ready to go. Employees at Australia’s Port Lincoln Tuna Processors have prepared the dozen yellowfin tuna with the special throwing rope being threaded through just behind the pectoral fin of the eight-kilogram fish.
Prize money for this year's event is $7000, more than usual because organizers for the first time will attempt to have two divisions, including one for amateurs. The tuna toss is part of Port Lincoln's famous Tunarama Festival. With new attractions at this year's festival including salsa dancing and dragon boat racing. Other attractions will include a "beach babe" quest, still part of the program despite protests from women's groups in previous years.
In terms of the “professionalsâ€, four-time defending champion and competitive hammer thrower Darren Billett will compete, while members of the State hockey and rugby teams as well as competitors from the Dragon Boat racing are also expected to have a go.
Mr. Billet's partner and Commonwealth Games hammer thrower Brooke Krueger has won the women's title three years in a row with a throw of 21 meters. Former Olympic hammer thrower Sean Carlin hold the record with a massive toss of 37.23 meters.
Channel 7 newsreader Jane Doyle is the master of ceremonies for this year's event that began with the heats at 2pm on Saturday and the finals starting at 2pm on Sunday.
The John West brand remains an important icon for Port Lincoln and last year saw ownership of the brand transferred from one multi-national corporation Unilever to another being Simplot.
â€Port Lincoln is home to Port Lincoln Tuna Processors, Australia's largest and only tuna cannery, who are sponsors of the event along with major sponsor John West,†a spokesperson said.