Captain James Cook

A biography that puts you on the quarterdeck with history's greatest sailor

Captain James Cook is one of the greatest maritime explorers in world history. Over three remarkable voyages of discovery into the Pacific in the latter part of the eighteenth century, Cook unravelled the oldest mystery surrounding the existence of Terra Australis Incognita - the Great South Land. He became the first explorer to circumnavigate New Zealand and establish that it was two main islands; discover the Hawaiian Islands for the British Empire; and left an enduring legacy.

Rob Mundle introduces us to an unlikely sailor in a teenage Cook, who, through the combination of hard-won skills as a seafarer, the talents of a self-taught navigator and surveyor, and an exceptional ability to lead and care for his men, climbed the ranks of the Royal Navy to acheive legendary status among all who sailed and mapped the world.

ROB MUNDLE OAM is a journalist, broadcaster and bestselling author who grew up on Sydney's northside, initially in Cremorne, then on the northern beaches. His sailing career started as a four-year-old in a tiny sandpit sailboat he shared with his younger brothers, Dennis and Bruce, and the family cat.

A veteran media commentator and competitive sailor, widely regarded as Australia's 'voice of sailing', Rob was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for in recognition of his services to sailing and journalism, in 2013.

Rob is the author of 18 books including his maritime history bestsellers - Bligh, Flinders, Cook, The First Fleet, Great South Land and Under Full Sail. His book on the tragic 54th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Fatal Storm, became an international bestseller and was published in six languages.

A competitive sailor since the age of 11, Rob has reported on seven America's Cup matches (including the live international television coverage of Australia's historic victory in 1983), four Olympics and numerous other major events, including the Sydney-Hobart classic for 50 years. He has competed in the Sydney-Hobart on three occasions and won local, state and Australian sailing championships, as well as contested many major international offshore events. Beyond his media and racing activities he was responsible for the introduction of the international Laser and J/24 sailboat classes to Australia

Currently, the media manager for the supermaxi Sydney-Hobart racer, Wild Oats XI, Rob is also on the organising committee of Hamilton Island Race Week, Australia's largest keelboat regatta, and a Director of the Australian National Maritime Museum's Maritime Foundation. Rob was a founder of the Hayman Island Big Boat Series and a past Commodore of Southport Yacht Club on the Gold Coast. He is also the only Australian member of the America's Cup Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

Rob's on-going love of the sea and sailing sees him living at Main Beach on the edge of the Gold Coast Broadwater.