Sydney: Two sailors have died in separate incidents at the Sydney to Hobart Bluewater Classic, organizers said Friday, a day after the race began with stormy winds and high seas forecast.
Both crew members aboard the flying fish Arctos and Bowlin encountered surge as the boats raced south along the New South Wales coast after departure from Sydney Harbor on Boxing Day.
Other teams tried to revive him, but failed.
The race committee said it could not provide further details of the deaths as police were investigating and some family members could not yet be contacted.
“Our thoughts are with the staff, family and friends of the deceased,” it said in a statement.
New South Wales Police said the boat crew had informed them of two deaths during the night.
David Jacobs, vice commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, said the yachts were being driven by strong winds at the time of the sailors’ deaths.
“The speed of the lead boats was between 25 and 30 knots, so they were traveling very fast. “From the information I have received, the sea was not unusually large,” Jacobs told reporters.
– ‘devastated’ –
The yacht club will launch an investigation to help improve security at the event, he said.
Jacobs said the deaths would have a deep impact on the racing community.
“On the boat itself they train together, live together, cook together, they do everything together. It will be devastating, because we are devastated,” he said.
Gusty winds and high seas were forecast for the 628-nautical mile event, which ends in Hobart, the Tasmanian state capital after the fleet tackles the notorious Bass Strait.
But it was not an “extreme” forecast, Jacobs said.
“These fleets can handle those winds easily. They’re sea racers, they’re used to the wind,” he said.
[Weatherisanimportantfactorintheracefirstheldin1945Windsandconditionsoftenchangerapidly[1945मेंपहलीबारआयोजितकीगईदौड़मेंमौसमएकमहत्वपूर्णकारकहैहवाएंऔरस्थितियांअक्सरतेजीसेबदलतीरहतीहैं।
In 1998, when a deep depression struck the fleet in Bass Strait, six people died, five boats sank and 55 sailors had to be rescued.
So far, 16 boats have been withdrawn from the initial fleet of 104, Jacobs said.
Alive, the overall winner of last year’s Tattersall Cup, which takes into account boat size and other factors, was one of the first casualties, retiring due to engine problems.
– Race Favorite Retired –
In a major blow, race record holder Comanche retired with mainsail damage, leaving the door open for supermaxi rival Locknock to win line honors for the second year in a row.
Comanche, who set a new mark in 2017 by crossing the finish line in one day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds, was leading when she retired.
Locknect opened a lead of more than eight nautical miles over its nearest rival Celestial on Friday morning, followed by Wild Thing.
Wild Oats, which has won the race twice – last in 2014 – was another casualty with rigging damage.
