MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — Rob Mundle, author of the best-seller Fatal Storm—an account of the devastating 1998 Sydney-Hobart Race tragedy—was recognized for his contribution to raising awareness and promoting safety with Australia's inaugural Maritime Safety Award. Mundle, a journalist and yachting commentator, wrote the book after exhaustive, in-depth interviews with competitors and their families in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. Six sailors died in that tragic race. Presented at the Australian Marine Awards in Melbourne, the award confirms that Fatal Storm is more than a record of a maritime tragedy, but a blueprint for safety at sea. The judging panel of marine industry leaders chose Mundle's book over a wide range of products relating to marine safety. The criteria for the award were based on "contribution to benefit the industry in the area of marine safety; creating marine safety awareness in Australia and having the potential to continue to promote marine safety."