Rob Mundle

{{short description|Australian yachtsman, maritime commentator and author}}

{{use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}

Rob Mundle OAM is an Australian yachtsman, maritime commentator and author.

He is the author of some 19 books,{{Cite web|title=Rob Mundle |publisher=Harper Collins Australia|url=https://www.harpercollins.com.au/rob-mundle/|access-date=2020-07-07 |language=en-AU}} six of which have become best sellers, including Captain James Cook: from Sailor to Legend; Fatal Storm: The 54th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race; Bligh: Master Mariner; and Flinders: The Man Who Mapped Australia.{{Cite web|title=Books by Rob Mundle|url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/rob-mundle/author1074.html|access-date=2020-07-07|website=www.booktopia.com.au|archive-date=9 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709135835/https://www.booktopia.com.au/rob-mundle/author1074.html|url-status=live}} Since publishing those biographies Mundle is regarded as a contemporary authority on James Cook, William Bligh and Mathew Flinders.{{Cite web|title=Captain Cook was a 'natural born sailor'|url=https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6152804238001|access-date=2020-07-07|website=Sky News Australia|archive-date=8 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708053447/https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6152804238001|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2020-04-27|title=Captain Bligh set adrift by mutineers on this day in 1789|url=https://www.2gb.com/podcast/captain-bligh-set-adrift-by-mutineers-on-this-day-in-1789/|access-date=2020-07-07|website=2GB|language=en|archive-date=7 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707090205/https://www.2gb.com/podcast/captain-bligh-set-adrift-by-mutineers-on-this-day-in-1789/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Woodhead|first=Cameron|date=2011-01-21|title=Bligh: Master Mariner|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/bligh-master-mariner-20110120-19xlb.html|access-date=2020-07-07|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|archive-date=7 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707154334/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/bligh-master-mariner-20110120-19xlb.html|url-status=live}}

Mundle began sailing as a boy.{{Cite web|last=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2011-02-24|title=Rob Mundle talks ocean-racing, thrill chasing, and the great William Bligh|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/02/16/3140485.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505051152/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/02/16/3140485.htm|archive-date=5 May 2018|access-date=2020-07-07|website=Conversations with Richard Fidler|language=en-au}} After finishing school he became a cadet journalist at The Australian newspaper, which led to a career as a noted nautical commentator in print, radio and television{{Cite web|last=Willson|first=Reviewer: Robert|date=2014-12-05|title=Book review: The First Fleet, by Rob Mundle|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/book-review-the-first-fleet-by-rob-mundle-20141201-11jlmd.html|access-date=2020-07-07|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|archive-date=9 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709135842/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/book-review-the-first-fleet-by-rob-mundle-20141201-11jlmd.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2019-12-24|title=75 years of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/programs/breakfast/rob-mundle-sydney-to-hobart-yacht-race/11825300|access-date=2020-07-07|website=ABC Radio|language=en-AU|archive-date=7 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407183813/https://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/programs/breakfast/rob-mundle-sydney-to-hobart-yacht-race/11825300|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Rob Mundle|url=https://www.sailingworld.com/authors/rob-mundle/|access-date=2020-07-07|website=Sailing World|language=en|archive-date=7 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707164500/https://www.sailingworld.com/authors/rob-mundle/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2015-12-09|title=Rob Mundle|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/rob-mundle/7014660|access-date=2020-07-07|website=ABC Radio National|language=en|archive-date=7 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407183812/https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/rob-mundle/7014660|url-status=live}} and to him becoming known as 'the voice of sailing'.{{Cite web|title=Adventures Weekly with Bob Fisher and Rob Mundle - The Original SINS|url=https://www.sail-world.com/news/229220/Bob-Fisher-and-Rob-Mundle--The-Original-SINS|access-date=2020-07-07|website=www.sail-world.com|archive-date=8 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708071757/https://www.sail-world.com/news/229220/Bob-Fisher-and-Rob-Mundle--The-Original-SINS|url-status=live}}

Since the 1980s he has covered the America's Cup, sailing in the Olympics and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race,{{cite web |last1=Rob |first1=Mundle |title=Author Profile |url=https://www.dymocks.com.au/authors/rob-mundle |website=Dymocks Books |access-date=7 July 2020 |archive-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707085009/https://www.dymocks.com.au/authors/rob-mundle |url-status=live }} on which he is regarded as an authority.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-25|title=Hoist a virtual spinnaker and relive this historic yacht's hair-raising Sydney to Hobart race without getting wet|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-26/mistral-1947-virtual-sydney-to-hobart-yacht-race/13013302|access-date=2021-03-11|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU|archive-date=11 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311061235/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-26/mistral-1947-virtual-sydney-to-hobart-yacht-race/13013302|url-status=live}}

Mundle is credited with introducing the Laser and J24 class boats into Australia.{{Cite journal|last=Rothfield|first=Mark|date=2013|title=The write stuff|url=https://www.clubmarine.com.au/exploreboating/articles/28-4-The-write-stuff|journal=Club Marine Magazine Australia|volume=28|issue=4|access-date=11 March 2021|archive-date=5 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305044951/https://www.clubmarine.com.au/exploreboating/articles/28-4-The-write-stuff|url-status=live}} From 2011 to 2013 he was Commodore of Southport Yacht Club.

In 2000 Mundle was award the Australian Sports Medal for services to sailing in the media;{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Australian Honours Database|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/985129|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407183814/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/985129|archive-date=7 April 2022|access-date=|website=}} and in 2013 was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to sailing and to journalism.{{Cite web|title=Order of Australia Medal awarded to Rob Mundle and John Biffin|url=https://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Order-of-Australia-Medal-awarded-to-Rob-Mundle-and-John-Biffin/-110627|access-date=2020-07-07|website=www.sail-world.com|archive-date=7 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707155105/https://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Order-of-Australia-Medal-awarded-to-Rob-Mundle-and-John-Biffin/-110627|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Australian Honours Database|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1148171|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407183814/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1148171|archive-date=7 April 2022|access-date=|website=}}