Tragedy strikes at Sydney-Hobart: Two sailors lost in storm
During the 79th edition of the Sydney-Hobart regatta, tragic accidents occurred resulting in the deaths of two sailors. According to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, these were crew members of "Flying Fish Arctos" and "Bowline".
The mentioned accidents happened on Thursday evening, which corresponds to Thursday morning Eastern Time. The organizing committee received information that during the storm two sailors were hit by the boom, which is the horizontal beam on which the mainsail is set.
"Flying Fish Arctos" was located about 56 kilometres east of Ulladulla, while "Bowline" was about 56 kilometres east of Batemans Bay. Despite the quickly undertaken resuscitation efforts, the sailors could not be saved. The water police are conducting an investigation into this matter.
These incidents are being examined by the water police, and since all family members have not yet been contacted, we cannot provide further details at this stage. Our thoughts are with the crew, family, and friends of the deceased, wrote representatives of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
Two sailors died during the Sydney-Hobart regatta
The mentioned unfortunate accidents were the first during the Sydney-Hobart regatta since 1998. The weather conditions during the regatta are exceptionally challenging, which prompted many teams, including the favourites "Master Lock Comanche," to withdraw from the competition. The Sydney-Hobart regatta, which began on December 26, covers a distance of 1,167 kilometres.
The yacht that first crosses the finish line wins the Sydney-Hobart regatta. It is usually the largest and most modern maxi yacht in the field. A significant and important role is played by winning after the yacht class handicap is considered, which is the Tattersall's Cup. This cup is regarded as the most important Australian award in offshore racing.
