Two people competing in the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race have died following two separate, tragic incidents.
New South Wales Police reported that around 11:50pm on December 26, a crew member on board of a yacht had been hit with a sail boom. Fellow crew members performed CPR, but the sailor could not be revived.
The crew notified the Marine Area Command of the incident and the boat changed course to Jervis Bay where it is expected to arrive around 7am AEST.
Two hours later, the same tragedy occurred when a crew member on another vessel was struck by a sail boom and passed away.
Authorities confirmed that a police vessel is currently escorting the second yacht to Batemans Bay where they are expected to arrive around 7am.
Organisers of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht race took to the official website with a statement about the incidents.
“There have been, tragically, two separate deaths overnight in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, involving the vessels Flying Fish Arctos (NSW) and Bowline (SA),” said spokesperson Di Pearson.
“The Race Committee were advised both crew members were hit by the boom.
Flying Fish Arctos was sailing approximately 30 nautical miles east/southeast of Ulladulla when the incident occurred. Fellow crew members performed CPR, but they could not revive their fellow crew.”
Water Police are currently investigating the deaths and are in the process of contacting the families of those involved.
“Our thoughts are with the crews, family and friends of the deceased. Further information will be provided as it becomes available,” the statement concluded.
According to the official listings, Flying Fish Arcos has a crew of 10 plus a skipper and a navigator with a team made up of a “number of veterans from previous years, as well as an international crew of trainees competing in the race as a personal challenge.”
Bowline is a smaller vessel with a crew of seven plus the skipper and navigator. The boat contained a mix of experience levels, “selected for their experience and aptitude for offshore races, some with over 40 years’ experience and others who have just begun to sail offshore”.
The crew members’ names have not yet been released.
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