Rob Mundle takes the helm as Commodore of Southport Yacht Club

by Jeni Bone on 2 Aug 2010 Prominent sailor, journalist and author, Rob Mundle, has been elected unopposed as Commodore of Southport Yacht Club, on the Gold Coast, adding to this marine legend's many and diverse duties.

After serving two terms with the club’s Board of Directors he now replaces Neale Hollier. Neale served four years as Commodore and an additional five years on club committees. On standing down at what was the club’s 63rd Annual General Meeting he was nominated for Life Membership.

'Thanks to the Neale’s efforts Southport Yacht Club is enjoying the benefits that come from an enthusiastic and satisfied membership,' said Mundle at the event. 'The club has a wonderful history: it is an integral part of the Gold Coast, and we intend keeping it that way through direct involvement with the community. The club also holds the deserved reputation for being one of the friendliest on the east coast, and I’m looking forward to seeing that tradition continue.'

Having lived most of his life in Sydney, Rob moved to the Gold Coast eight years ago and became actively involved with Southport Yacht Club soon after. He has been a member of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Sydney for more than 30 years.

He was responsible for the introduction of the Laser and J/24 sailboat classes to Australia; been a television and newspaper reporter for seven America’s Cups, four Olympics and more than 30 Sydney-Hobart races; and he has been the author of 10 books, including the international bestseller, Fatal Storm. He is also the only Australian member of the America’s Cup Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

Noel Thompson continues as Chairman, Ian Hall as Vice-Commodore Power and Daniel Cadman as Treasurer.

Offshore yachtsman Matt Percy was named Vice-Commodore Sail, and the two new Board members are Peter Lahey and Justin Sinnamon. Chris Oxenford continued as a Director, while retiring Board member Tony Goldner, a Past Commodore, was also nominated for Life Membership.

Rob Mundle thanked all retiring Board members, including Vice-Commodore Sail Guy Obren, for the considerable effort they had made towards the club’s continued growth. He added that he was looking forward to working with the new Board so the club could continue to deliver benefits to its entire membership and the community.

This is Mundle's first post as Commodore, although he refers in jest to the 'secret society' of international yachting journalists - known as SINS - to which he belongs and their (mock) titles as 'Commodores'.

The role is certainly not decorative, Mundle asserts. 'As one of the leaders of the Club, I will be working to maintain and grow our membership, programs and focus on youth,' he says.

'The Club is on a wonderful roll,' Mundle continues. 'We have fabulous membership, we're financially sound, and have a range of boating activities ongoing. It's my job to keep the momentum going, bring on new things, focus on youth and growing our sailing division. We have a strong power division – and it's not a case of ‘them and us’, we all embrace boating.'

Mundle has been smitten with Southport since he first arrived on the Gold Coast eight years ago. 'In all the travelling I have done, there are very few yacht clubs to match our location. It's close to the city, right on the boating environment, easy access to the Broadwater. Now we are focusing on getting more involved in the broader community, investing in our youth sailing program, adding new events and of course, our media communications.'

As a seasoned communicator, journo and author, Mundle has enviable clout within the media. He has also been around boats and boating all his life, since putt-putting around Sydney Harbour from the age of one, and getting in to sailboat racing at 11. He was boating editor of the Daily Mirror and while his first love is sailing, he has equal regard for power.

Commodore of any yacht club was never one of Mundle's ambitions. 'It was just never on the radar,' he says. 'It’s one of those things that just came out of the blue, an honour. I never envisaged becoming Commodore here. The Gold Coast really grabbed me for the lifestyle and everything at our fingertips. Moving here was the best thing I ever did. Then I got involved in the Club, was invited on the Board where I have been for a couple of years and this has eventuated.'

The best things about the Club, Mundle says are the 'lovely traditions, I embrace them', which includes Commodore cap and full regalia. 'There is a real sense of cameraderie here, and friendship. The locals are great, there's a real sense that it was a choice to come here – and that permeates the Club.'

Adding to his duties as Commodore are Mundle's commitment to his writing, event organising for the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week and Sail Paradise Gold Coast, in January.

'I am putting the finishing touches on my 10th book,' he explains, 'which will be out for Christmas. I am at 100,000 words on the biography of Captain Bligh, showing him as a brilliant mariner and great explorer. Nobody has ever taken it on, and once you get past all the Hollywood myth and folklore, he is a fascinating study.'

As a key organiser of Sail Paradise Gold Coast in January, Mundle is elated to report that it will be a major regatta in January 2011. 'I think we’ll get 60 this year,' he says.