The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

One evening in May 1945, a small group of Sydney sailing enthusiasts decided that their planned post-Christmas cruise south to Hobart would be more enjoyable if they made it a race. And so began the story of a contest that quickly became ranked among the world’s premier offshore racing events – a race that demands both immense physical and mental endurance of the individual sailor along with the coordinated effort of a close-knit team. It’s a challenge where one mistake can lead to defeat, while success can deliver national and international acclaim.In its 75th year, the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has become an icon of Australia’s summer sport, ranking in public interest with such national events as the Melbourne Cup, the Australian Open tennis and the Boxing Day cricket test. And the 628-nautical mile course is often described as the most gruelling long ocean race in the world.The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is the story of one of the world’s greatest sporting challenges, an event where men and women from all walks of life are inspired and challenged by the beauty and power of nature.

'Mundle's portrayals of courageous sailors and heroic rescuers fighting for their lives are ... vivid.'- -- John Rousmaniere, author Fastnet

Rob Mundle established his international identity as an author in 1999 with his gripping factual account of one of the world’s most dramatic sporting tragedies, the 54th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. His book, Fatal Storm, became an international bestseller. It is published in six languages and has sold well over 200,000 copies – a remarkable achievement for this category in publishing.His three most recent books, ‘Bligh – Master Mariner’, ‘Flinders, The Man Who Mapped Australia’, and ‘Cook – from Sailor to Legend’, achieved No. 1 bestselling status across Australia within a few weeks of being released. ‘Bligh – Master Mariner’ has been released in the UK. Rob has now published his 14th book, a fresh and insightful look into the activities around the First Fleet sailing to Australia, and the men and women who became the cornerstone of the foundation of the nation.Rob Mundle was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2013 for his services to Sailing and Journalism. Paul English is an actor and narrator based in Melbourne who has appeared in more than 40 productions with major Australian theatre companies. Some highlights include Shakespeare's Hamlet, Chekhov’s Ivanov and Stoppard's Arcadia. Paul's television credits include SeaChange, Curtin and Gallipoli. His narration of Li Cunxin's Mao's Last Dancer and Coming Rain by Stephen Daisley have both won AudioFile Earphones Awards.

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