Two Sydney to Hobart sailors from separate yachts have died at sea after being stuck by their boat’s sail booms.
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which administers the iconic race, said that one sailor each on entrants Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline were killed after being struck by the boom, a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail.
The incident aboard Flying Fish Arctos occurred around 30 nautical miles east-south east of Ulladulla on the NSW south coast shortly before midnight.
Crew members attempted CPR but could not revive their teammate.
Around two hours later, a crew member aboard Bowline was struck approximately 30 nautical miles east/north-east of Batemans Bay and fell unconscious.
‘(Police were told that) crew members from a second yacht were administering CPR to a colleague who had also been struck by the vessels sail boom,’ NSW Police said.
‘A short time later officers were informed that CPR had been unsuccessful.’
The race will continue as the fleet continues its passage to Constitution Dock, with the first boats expected to arrive later on Friday or early Saturday morning.
Two Sydney to Hobart sailors have died at sea amid wild weather conditions

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which administers the iconic race, said that one sailor each on entrants Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline were killed after being struck by the boom, a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail

The incident aboard Flying Fish Arctos occurred around 30 nautical miles east-south east of Ulladulla on the NSW south coast shortly before midnight (the yacht’s sail boom is circled)
‘Our thoughts are with the crews, family and friends of the deceased,’ the CYCA said in a statement.
‘Further information will be provided as it becomes available.’
NSW Police said Flying Fish Arctos is being escorted to Jervis Bay, while Bowline is being escorted to Bateman’s Bay.
Both are expected to arrive around 7am.
The crew members’ names have not yet been released.
Cruising Yacht Club Australia Commodore David Jacobs said ‘everyone’s devastated’.
‘It’s a terrible tragedy,’ he added.
Sixteen boats have now retired out of a total fleet of 104.

The crew member aboard Bowline was struck approximately 30nm east/north-east of Batemans Bay and fell unconscious, with CPR also unsuccessful (Bowline is pictured)

Crews battled wild conditions during the iconic race
‘Sixteen have retired, three were dismasted, two have main sail damage and the balance there were various equipment failures that caused them to retire,’ Mr Jacobs said.
‘But we still have 88 boats that are continuing in the race.’
The retirements include race favourite, Master Lock Comanche, which pulled out due to main sail damage.
Mr Jacobs revealed there was ‘one good story’ that happened overnight.
‘On the boat Porco Rosso a person was swept overboard. That is one of the most terrifying experiences that you can have,’ he said.
‘This was at 3.14am so it was at night which makes it ten-fold more scary.
Mr Jacobs revealed that the crew member had been washed around 1.2km away from the boat as rescue crews scrambled to locate them.
‘Fortunately the boat from which they fell was able to retrieve that crew member and they are healthy and well,’ he added.

Cruising Yacht Club Australia Commodore David Jacobs said ‘everyone’s devastated’ by the two deaths
Mr Jacobs insisted that the forecast was not ‘extreme’.
‘There was strong winds. The forecast was strong winds to gale force winds,’ he said.
‘These fleets can can handle those things. They’re ocean races. They’re used to those winds. It was not extreme conditions.’
The deaths come 26 years after six sailors were killed in storms during the tragic 1998 running of the race, which triggered a NSW coronial inquest and mass reforms to the safety protocols that govern the race.
A west south-westerly change was expected to hit the Bass Strait overnight, bringing winds up to 40 knots and possible showers – conditions that will be particularly challenging for the smaller boats in the fleet.
But even the four 100ft supermaxi yachts risk damage amid the wild weather, which could be race-defining and force more retirements from a fleet standing at 101 yachts.
Drama unfolded early on as fellow supermaxi Wild Thing 100 narrowly avoided a collision with Celestial V70 before recapturing her speed out of the Heads.
Wild Thing was at the centre of another incident in the harbour that left leading URM Group to complete a penalty turn.
URM Group had been required to keep clear of a cluster of boats on her starboard side but struggled to do so with Wild Thing so close leeward.
Just as Whisper flew a protest flag, claiming the mini-maxi had been too close, URM Group completed a penalty turn to absolve herself for the misstep.
Penalty turns for incidents that take place in the harbour must be completed early in the race, or else the offender risks a time penalty on arrival in Hobart.