Champagne typically flows and the sounds of exuberant celebrations fill Constitution Dock when the winner of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race arrives in Hobart.


However, this year’s finish was marked by a somber atmosphere following the tragic deaths of two sailors in separate incidents during the race’s tumultuous first night. Defending champion LawConnect, skippered by Australian tech entrepreneur Christian Beck, crossed the finish line in the early hours of Saturday morning without the usual fanfare.


LawConnect, a super maxi measuring 100 feet, navigated the River Derwent shortly after 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, achieving a total elapsed time of 1 day, 13 hours, 35 minutes, and 13 seconds for the 628-nautical mile (722 miles, 1,160 kilometers) race that kicked off in Sydney harbor on Thursday.


The Celestial V70 followed in second place, finishing approximately 2.5 hours later, while Wild Thing 100 took third, trailing Celestial by about 25 minutes. Out of 104 vessels that started the race, 29 had withdrawn, either at sea or in port, due to the harsh conditions.


Tony Mutter, a crew member of LawConnect, stated that they would commemorate their victory privately in light of the two sailors’ deaths. The crew was informed about the fatalities on the morning of the second day, after navigating through the same stormy seas that resulted in the tragic incidents. “We were completely focused on our race,” Mutter remarked, mentioning that the navigator chose a moment to break the news to the crew.


Upon receiving the heartbreaking news, the atmosphere aboard LawConnect turned more serious, with Mutter expressing their shock and condolences for their fellow competitors. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which oversees the yacht race, reported on Friday that one sailor from each of the affected vessels, Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline, died after being struck by a boom—a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail.


The deceased were identified as Roy Quaden, age 55, from Western Australia, a crew member aboard Flying Fish Arctos, and 65-year-old Nick Smith from South Australia, a participant on Bowline. New South Wales police confirmed that both yachts had been seized for an investigation, likely leading to a coroner’s inquest, and the Cruising Yacht Club announced they would also conduct their own inquiry.


Additionally, there was an incident where a sailor from another yacht, Porco Rosso, was washed overboard but was successfully rescued. This sailor drifted approximately one kilometer before being retrieved, triggering an emergency position-indicating radio beacon—a safety device mandated for all race participants.


Describing the ordeal, David Jacobs, vice-commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, remarked on the terrifying nature of such an experience, particularly given that it occurred at night. This year’s incidents evoke memories of the 1998 race, which also saw six sailors lose their lives due to severe storms, prompting substantial reforms to safety measures, including the requirement of radio beacons for all competitors. Throughout the 79-year history of the race, there have been a total of 13 fatalities, with four attributed to heart attacks among sailors.


This year’s race featured the first all-Filipino crew, consisting of 15 sailors, who unfortunately withdrew due to the challenging weather conditions. Helmed by seasoned sailor Ernesto Echauz, Centennial 7 was part of six international entries and included members from the Philippines’ national sailing team alongside personnel from the country’s navy.


Veteran round-the-world sailor Grant Wharington, the Australian skipper of Wild Thing 100, reflected on the harsh nature of this year’s Hobart race, describing it as “testing and boat-breaking.” He acknowledged the gravity of the circumstances surrounding this year’s race, questioning whether the risks associated with participating in such events warranted the potential consequences for personal health and family.


“Ultimately, we are challenging ourselves physically and mentally with undertakings like this, and despite the risks, we find joy in the experience,” Wharington commented, noting his 31 participations in the iconic race and the cherished memories it holds for him.