Fatal Storm: The Inside Story of the Tragic Sydney-Hobart Race

by Rob Mundle

"Harrowing shoreside reading."­­ Booklist "Should be required reading for all ocean sailors."­­ Library Journal The first book to recount the disastrous events of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race, Fatal Storm is sure to be a popular paperback selection. Rob Mundle takes readers through every white-knuckling hour of the gale that descended in the predawn hours of December 27, stretching over 900 miles from Australia to New Zealand, bringing with it hurricane strength winds and five-story waves. In all, 57 sailors were rescued, plucked from the decks of broken boats or from the sea itself under impossible conditions. Six sailors died. A Sydney-Hobart Race veteran himself, Rob Mundle had total and unequaled access to the people behind the story. The result is a tale of extreme adventure, extraordinary will, and the overwhelming emotional tales of survivors, rescuers, and the bereaved.

Genres: Nonfiction, Adventure, Sports, Survival, History, Australia, Maritime

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Rob Mundle is the author of the highly acclaimed international bestseller Fatal Storm. He has written six other books, including the bestselling Sir James Hardy: An Adventurous Life, Alan Bond’s authorised biography,Bond, and Life at the Extreme, the official record of the 2005/2006 Volvo Ocean Race round the world. He lives in Main Beach, Queensland.

Reviews

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal book; could not put it down. Highly recommend!

Rob Mundle wrote this book in sixteen weeks which is a huge accomplishment. It is a true story about the 1998 Sydney to Hobart race where six sailors perished due to horrific weather conditions.

This annual race is a 630-mile course with savage seas off the Tasman Sea and the notorious Bass Strait between Australia and Tasmania. Storm Bay is aptly named due to wild winds and shallow water. Bitterly cold winds sweep in from the Antarctic region. The wind gods go from calm to calamity in a flash.

Pre-race drinking and partying occurs on Christmas Day and on Boxing Day, December 26th. The race begins on December 26th from Sydney Harbor. What could possibly go wrong?

Several seasoned sailors were in their seventies and eighties. The youngest sailor was twelve years old. 115 yachts were at the start line in Sydney Harbor when the race started. Three yachts immediately ran into each other but continued on in the race.

Mundle's writing style made me feel like I was onboard the yachts as they steered into ferocious weather. It was hairpin action with yachts being tossed about during a cyclone; Americans call it a hurricane.

Some of the memorable passages include:
* Ocean racing takes place in the stadium of life.

* It is a most romantic environment: wind, sea, sun, moon, stars, and marine life.

* Ocean racing delivers danger plus moments of beauty.

* Mother Nature creates the rules and delivers the results.

* Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.

* It's like sailing into a brick wall. The ocean swells into liquid mountains.

* Mother Nature dropped a meteorological bomb on the race fleet.

Highly recommend this book, particularly for readers who thrive on adventure, adrenaline, and grit.

[Doubledf99.99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drama on the high sea's with stories of survival during one of the the worst storms to hit the Sydney-Hobart Race.

[Christine]

I'm leaving this unrated, which is something I do not normally do.

The writing is good, but I lack enough knowledge about sailing and am finding myself getting confused as to who is on what ship.

[Reading Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a total stranger to off-shore racing, but the concept here seemed interesting. Unfortunately Mundle brings the details but forgets the story.

There are definitely some excellent, gripping anecdotes and quotes interspersed through Fatal Storm, and some sections that left me amazed at what the sailors endured and survived. On the whole, however, the book feels too much like a report and too little like a narrative.

The chapters about the boats' individual experiences (which make up a fair chunk of the book) are each quite interesting, but essentially all tell the same story: the weather was great at first, they made great time, then the weather turned and all hell broke loose, the boat nearly fell apart, helicopter teams risked their lives to save the sailors, the survivors were glad to be alive. Quite engaging the first time you hear it, not so much by the fifth boat in the exact same circumstance.

Mundle also forgets that some of the rest of us aren't sailors and have no idea what a spinnaker or a trysail is. A little bit of description for the uninitiated would have gone a long way.

Not sorry I read it, but it's sure not on par with some of the really excellent adventure / event writing out there.

[♥ Marlene♥]

This is what I wrote about this book: on Sunday, July 29, 2007

8 out of 10
Completed it last night. It took me a while to finish but that is also because I only read for 45 minutes at night.
All my time went to The Tour de France or should I say Tour de Force (Rasmussen) :-(

Anyways. I don't know anything about sailing. When I read this book I must admit it feels like another sport, like mountain climbing where people like to do dangerous sports and put there lives in jeopardy but don't think of the rescuers who have to save there asses. Let's call it a selfish sport.

About the book. At first I thought it to be very confusing. So many names, of people on the boats, people that do the weather reports, people that rescue but after a while I started to get into it and really enjoyed reading it. How sad all those men died, especially for there loved ones.

One thing I love reading Non Fiction is that you not only enjoy a good story but also learn new things.
8.5

[annapi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent piece of reporting/documentary, well researched and brought to the reader in a way that conveys all the suspense and excitement of a thriller, but with the respect due to the solemnity of the tragedy. I know I must have heard about this in 1998 when it happened, especially as my husband was so sailing-obsessed then that he must have followed the race, but I can't remember it at all.

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race, begun in 1945, is run annually on Boxing Day. It is said by some to be the most grueling course in the world, and in 1998 a killer storm of unexpected proportions devastated the fleet. Of the 115 boats that started, only 44 made it to Hobart, and 6 sailors lost their lives. This book tells not just the tale of the tragedy and the heroic rescue efforts, but also gives the history of the race. Highly recommended.

[Boppi · Rating 4 out of 5]

They say that ocean racing is like standing naked under a freezing shower, ripping up thousand dollar bills.
I have always wondered what makes people climb high mountains, sail singer handed around the world. I think it must have something to do with adrenaline addiction. The pat answer, "Because it's there" some how doesn't wash with me.
This book is proof positive that, no matter how experienced you are, and how strong the boat you are sailing in, the sea can always beat you. Six people died on this race, many were injured and most of the boats were badly damaged or sunk; and these folks do this for fun.
All in all a riveting read. Written by an experience sailer who is also a journalist.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is as good as any suspense/thriller novel I have read. Even though I don’t know much about sailing I have worked in pre/hospital care so I have some idea about rescues, effects of injuries. How there weren’t more fatalities is beyond me, the bravery of the competitors was astonishing & the skill, composure & also bravery of the rescuers left me speechless.

I come from Sydney, and this race is a big part of Christmas in Sydney, just as it is in Hobart, so this meant it had another means of interesting me.

Mundle’s writing is pretty good. You are immersed in the events. I was exhausted at times reading this book. But that is an indication of the quality of the writing. All up a good read.

[Erin Nolte · Rating 4 out of 5]

So most of my books have a 4-5 star rating. I will literally not read a book if it doesn't capture me in the first ten pages. If you see 3 stars, I felt the writing and storyline was good enough to make it to a review. This is a true story that got 4 stars. It's based on an epic storm that happened during one of the world's biggest annual sailboat regattas. I work in yachting now, but my origins come from racing sailboats. I remember the first time I hit 17 knots in a 30 foot Olsen. I was 10% this is awesome and 90 % hold the F on!! Some of the stories I read I cannot even imagine. I've been in scary seas more than once, but this story from a sailors point of view is very close to The Perfect Strom.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several books devoted to the Sydney-Hobart race. It was a horrific race and Rob Mundle writes it well, not dwelling on the tragedies or the triumphs, but gives a flavour of how it must have felt to be out there. Excellent read.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sydney to Hobart is a Boxing Day tradition in Australia. When I first read this book, I knew nothing about sailing or much about the race except for the spectacle the start creates in Sydney Harbour each year and viewing the boats going past the local beach that I'd holiday at every year. The 1998 race was terrifyingly newsworthy and our thoughts were with the sailors who were battling the horrific conditions and with those that lost their lives. I was interested in the detail and what lessons could be learnt from this and thoroughly enjoyed the well paced account that Rob Mundle gives. I've been sailing for 5 years now, not much offshore but the more I know the more I am fascinated by what happened, this book is on my list for a reread.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fatal Storm: The Inside Story of the Tragic Sydney-Hobart Race by Rob Mundle (International Maritime / MacGraw Hill 1999) (797.14) is one intense book; it’s about the niche world of high-stakes world-class yacht racing. This is an exciting and terrifying read. The author's description of the seas in the Southern Ocean scared the heck out of me, and I ain't afraid of nuthin'. If you liked The Perfect Storm and Into Thin Air, then you'll love this. I highly recommend it. My rating: 7.5, finished 2001.

[Haley Kilgour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who enjoys sailing should read this book. Yes it’s sad but it’s well defines the level of skill of professional sailors and exactly why the ocean should be respected.

The beginning was a little slow and I almost dnf’ed. But then the storm hits (figuratively and literally) and I just couldn’t put the book down.

Going into the book, I knew this disaster was bad. Having read it, it should’ve been a lot worse. The fact that it wasn’t as bad as it should’ve been speaks volumes of the racers and the rescuers.

[Paul McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Written in a way that the reader doesn’t need to be a sailing expert to understand.
I couldn’t believe how heroic the the rescue teams behaved and how more people weren’t lost at sea. As the reader you feel cold and wet throughout the book, as you imagine how terrifying the situation must have been.
A non stop thrill ride.

[nimrodiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really could not get into this book. I usually adore nonfiction stories of the sea, but for whatever reasons I had trouble getting through this book, and only made it about halfway through before setting it aside.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

great adventure book, worthy of the legacy of "Into Thin Air" about people who love a sport / adventure and are faced with disaster. Each chapter covers how a different boat survived this difficult storm (as well as those who perished).

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the hurricane that destroyed the Sydney to Hobart yacht race in 1998. Each ship is carefully described and the crews are made real in a way that makes their struggle to survive a vicious hurricane unforgettable. I literally could not put this book down.

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, really got the heart thumping at times. If you have anything to do with sailing, and even if you don't, this book with certainly help you to appreciate what some of these people face out there on the water.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very detailed book on a disastrous yacht race. Worth having in your collection.

[Annika Dahlberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible story of the rescue work of the Sydney to Hobart race. Could barely stop reading the book once I got started.

[Simon Stew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.

The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.

For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...

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[John Findlay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and exciting book to read. In a nutshell, the Sydney-Hobart race encountered disastrous weather, putting much of the fleet in extreme jeopardy. The book describes many of the boats, and the sailors on them, and the individual situation for each boat. It gave me a visual picture of what it must have been like to have been on a boat that was overrun by huge waves that would flip it on its side or even make it go "turtle". The helicopter rescues were spellbinding. I can't imagine being let down by a helicopter, swimming over to a victim in the water, attaching a harness to him, and being hoisted back to the helicopter, and then doing it again and again. The waves were so high that the helicopters sometimes had to rapidly gain altitude just to avoid a huge wave. My only complaint would be that it was hard for me to keep one crew and one boat separate from another, since so many of them encountered similar situations. I also wondered about the expense of rescuing all these sailors; it seemed somewhat selfish that sailors would put themselves in extreme danger and then rely on the services of the country for rescue. Hopefully this race (in 1998) was an anomaly.

[Dace Znotiņa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pēc grāmatas par burāšanas sacīstēm apkārt pasaulei vienatnē, šķita, ka stāsts par samērā īsu un tuvu maršrutu šķitīs pārāk vienkāršs. Bet katrai vietai ir savas īpatnības, un ir brīži, kad tas, ka uz klāja ir vēl citi biedri un sakaru aizsniedzamā attālumā arī citas jahtas, nenozīmē, ka viss ir droši un mierīgi. Ja iepriekšējā grāmata bija iedziļināšanās dažos stāstos un traģēdijās, tad šeit tās bija padsmit, un parādīja, cik dažādos veidos var notikt nelaime, cik atšķirīgi var reaģēt cilvēki un ka arī iznākumi būs dažādi, tomēr visam ir kopīgais - dabas varenība, cilvēka niecība un cilvēcīgums. Autors ir pastāstījis par burātājiem, kā viņi nonākuši līdz sacīkstēm, un rekonstruējis sacensību gaitu un vētru, parādot arī glābšanas pūliņus no grābēju puses. Grāmata kā brīdinājums nebūt pārgalvīgiem pat tad, ja kaut kas šķiet īsāks, mazāks, tuvāks.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must be into a sailing theme, with my last book being After The Flood.
Fatal Storm is based on the 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race in which 6 people perished.
This is the story of their survival, courage and skill in getting thru the worst storm to affect the race.

I loved part 2 of the book, which shares each yacht and how they faced the storm.
The pictures were a great addition, as you were able to really get an idea on how big the waves were and how rough the conditions were.

A must read if you are into survival stories or sailing.

3 stars given

[Ewen Stapley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative and confronting account of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. It is very descriptive and allows the reader in some small way to understand the challenges and fear the yachtsmen experienced during the massive storm in which 6 people lost their lives in 3 different yachts. As well to understand the devastation of much of the rest of the fleet. It also brings an understanding of the courage of the rescuers- particularly the helicopter crews, undertaking rescues in the night in the massive storm.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone surprised I read a sailing book? No? Me neither. Was honestly really well written. The interviews are incorporated very well into the story. Each account of the race is so well described and hearing the details is horrifying and gruesome and gives me second-hand fear. But maybe the book didn’t do it’s job of terrifying me because now I want to sail a Sydney to Hobart race.

[Tb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on a disastrous weather phenomenon bearing down on some of the best ocean racers in the world. Forces of nature tearing into a race fleet of the most well built performance racing yachts leaves to chance those that are damaged, dismasted or destroyed. An exhilarating read for any sailor or adrenaline seeker.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and well written book about the disastrous 54th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. As well as learning about the first hand accounts of those involved, I also enjoyed learning abut the culture of yachties. You also learn about yachting itself, almost accidentally, but the story is about the incredible events and aftermath of the race. Really worthwhile reading.

[Ray Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flat out scary accounting of a tragic race that ended badly. Wonderful scene descriptions combine with spot-on quotes to make for one of the best sailing books I've read. Lash yourself to the helm and take a look.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A detailed account of a tragedy. I could have wished for more in the way of personal stories. There are some, but not quite enough (my own opinion). Otherwise, the initial story needed to be told and people needed to be warned. Certain adventures and daredevilish living is not worth it.