Two sailors die during Sydney to Hobart yacht race
26 December 2024, 22:25
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to those who were killed.
Two sailors taking part in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race have died at sea amid wild weather conditions.
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) in Sydney, which administers the race, said that a sailor on Flying Fish Arctos and another on Bowline were killed after being struck by the boom, a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail.
The race will continue as the fleet continues its passage to Constitution Dock in Hobart, with the first boats expected to arrive later on Friday or early Saturday morning. The race is 628 nautical miles long.
David Jacobs, vice-commodore of the CYCA, said the race would “absolutely” continue.
“The conditions are challenging, but they’re not excessive,” he said. “So we’ve got sort of winds at about 25 knots coming from the north seas around about two metres or thereabouts, so the conditions that most of the sailors would normally easily handle.”
Our thoughts this morning are with the two sailors that tragically lost their lives in the Sydney to Hobart race overnight.
The Sydney to Hobart is an Australian tradition, and it is heartbreaking that two lives have been lost at what should be a time of joy.
We send our love…
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 26, 2024
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the sailors who died.
“We have sadly awoken to tragedy in the Sydney to Hobart with the awful news two sailors have lost their lives,” he said. “Our thoughts are with the crews, their families and loved ones at this deeply sad time.”
The incident aboard Flying Fish Arctos occurred around 30 nautical miles east-southeast of Ulladulla on the New South Wales south coast. Crew members attempted CPR but could not revive their teammate.
The crew member aboard Bowline was struck approximately 30 nautical miles east/north-east of Batemans Bay and fell unconscious, with CPR also unsuccessful.
A police vessel was escorting Bowline to Batemans Bay, where she is expected to arrive later on Friday morning.
“As these incidents are being dealt with by the Water Police and all family members are yet to be contacted, we cannot provide further details at this stage,” the CYCA said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the crews, family and friends of the deceased.”
Flying Fish Arctos, a New South Wales-based 50-footer, has contested 17 previous Hobarts since being built in 2001. The boat was designed for round-the-world sailing and is currently used by Flying Fish, a sailing school that operates in Mosman, a suburb on Sydney’s north shore.
The deaths come 26 years after six sailors were killed in storms during the 1998 running of the race, which triggered a state coronial inquest and mass reforms to the safety protocols that govern the race.
The first all-Filipino crew of 15 sailors was entered in the 2024 race, but was among about 15 retirements because of the weather. With veteran sailor Ernesto Echauz at the helm, Centennial 7 was one of six international entrants and includes sailors from the Philippines’ national team and the Philippines navy.
