Two Sydney to Hobart sailors killed after being struck on the head

Police believe crews on both yachts may have been changing sails at the time of the incidents and weren’t sailing with the wind.

Crew members from both vessels are being interviewed by police and the yachts declared crime scenes.

The boom is a long pole that extends perpendicular from the bottom of the mast and is attached to the bottom of the sail. It allows crews to control the sail’s shape and angle in response to winds and can spin around the mast quickly in response to strong gusts.

“Both of those crews are doing it pretty tough at the moment … they are pretty shaken up about what they’ve seen and what they had to do,” Superintendent Joseph McNulty said.

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The level of experience of the deceased crew members will form part of the police investigation.

“Flying Fish Arctos was sailing approximately 30 nautical miles (55.5 kilometres) east-south-east of Ulladulla when the incident occurred,” a Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Committee statement said. “Crew members performed CPR, but they could not revive their fellow crew.”

Bowline, the statement said, was approximately 30nm east-north-east of Batemans Bay when the crew members were hit.

“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 statement said.

“Our thoughts are with the crews, family and friends of the deceased.”

Overnight there were a series of high-profile retirements as the race hit an aggressive weather front that was predicted in pre-race briefings.

Race leader and favourite to take line honours, Master Lock Comanche, retired with a damaged mainsail, the same issue that took down URM Group and Centennial 7. By 6am on Friday, 12 of the 104 racers had retired.

“It’s a very close community – every person in that race will be feeling this acutely,” Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) vice commodore David Jacobs said.

Despite the two deaths and multiple retirements, Jacobs said he was surprised by the level of damage, given conditions were not “excessive”.

The CYCA will conduct an investigation into the incidents.

The Bureau of Meteorology had a strong wind warning in place overnight, with wind speeds about 25–30 knots between Sydney and Ulladulla and waves about two to three metres high in some areas.

BOM meteorologist Jiwon Park said the winds remained steadily north to north-easterly overnight, and the bureau didn’t observe any major wind changes or exceptionally dangerous conditions.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shared his condolences with the families of the two sailors.

“We have sadly awoken to tragedy in the Sydney to Hobart with the awful news two sailors have lost their lives. Our thoughts are with the crews, their families and loved ones at this deeply sad time,” Albanese said.

The two fatalities weren’t the only incidents overnight. A crew member on board Porco Rosso was swept overboard but was rescued by his fellow sailors. The yacht was forced to retire.

With Nick Newling and Mike Foley

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