Two sailors tragically lost their lives due to boom accidents during the turbulent first night of the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race, just two hours apart. The grim occurrence adds to the race’s somber legacy, which has seen various fatalities over the years. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), which organizes the prestigious sailing event, confirmed the fatalities on Friday, revealing that each sailor was struck by a boom—an essential horizontal pole that supports the sail of a yacht.
New South Wales Police Superintendent Joe McNulty reported that the deceased included a 55-year-old from Western Australia aboard the Flying Fish Arctos and a 65-year-old from South Australia aboard Bowline. McNulty indicated that the remaining crew from both vessels, currently in police custody for investigation purposes, are experiencing significant emotional distress following the incidents. “We’ve got police getting talking to them, doctors and counselling,” he mentioned, reflecting on the support they are receiving. “They are shaken up by what they’ve seen … and they didn’t give up.”
In a separate incident that night, a crew member from the Hobart yacht Porco Rosso was washed overboard but managed to survive. The sailor drifted approximately one kilometer from the yacht before being rescued, aided significantly by his emergency position-indicating radio beacon, a mandatory safety device for participants of the race. David Jacobs, the CYCA’s vice-commodore, described the ordeal as “one of the most terrifying experiences that you can have,” especially since it took place at night, heightening the danger.
These fatalities arrive 26 years after a devastating storm during the 1998 race that claimed the lives of six sailors. That incident led to a state coronial inquest and significant reforms in safety protocols, including the implementation of mandatory radio beacons for all sailors. In total, the Sydney to Hobart race has recorded 13 deaths since its inception nearly 80 years ago, with some attributed to heart attacks.
Despite the serious incidents, the fleet continued toward their destination at Constitution Dock in Hobart, Tasmania. The defending champion, LawConnect, successfully completed the race for the second consecutive year. Skipper Christian Beck and his team arrived in Hobart harbor at 2:35 a.m. on Saturday, finishing the 628 nautical mile journey after 1 day, 13 hours, and 35 minutes on the water, although the mood was understandably subdued.
Jacobs affirmed that the race would persist under the circumstances, emphasizing the challenge of the weather but asserting that it was manageable for most skilled sailors. “The conditions are challenging, but they’re not excessive,” he stated, noting wind speeds of about 25 knots and wave heights of around two meters. “The sailing community is a very close community. There’s about a thousand sailors on the water in this race, and to lose two in this fashion is just devastating.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences for the fallen sailors, highlighting the tragedy’s impact on their communities. “We have sadly awoken to tragedy in the Sydney to Hobart with the awful news two sailors have lost their lives,” he remarked, extending thoughts and prayers to the crews and family members of the deceased.
The incident involving Flying Fish Arctos transpired roughly 30 nautical miles east-southeast of Ulladulla, with crew members attempting CPR but unfortunately unable to revive their mate. Meanwhile, the crew member from Bowline was struck about 30 nautical miles east/northeast of Batemans Bay, also succumbing despite attempts at resuscitation. As investigations unfold by the Water Police, the CYCA has refrained from providing further information to respect the families and crews affected by these unfortunate events.
Additionally, the race this year saw the retirement of the first all-Filipino crew, the Centennial 7, due to adverse conditions. Led by experienced sailor Ernesto Echauz, the crew featured members from the Philippines’ national team and navy. Last year, LawConnect narrowly beat defending champion Comanche by less than a minute, while this year they had a comfortable lead of around 20 nautical miles over their nearest competitor, Celestial V70. Notably, Comanche, which withdrew from this year’s race, holds the record for the fastest finish set in 2017.
