
Two sailors have been killed in separate incidents after being struck by the increase on yachts competing within the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race
Organisers of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, which began on 26 December, have confirmed that tragically two sailors have died in a single day in separate incidents throughout the race.
In line with a press release issued by the Cruising Yacht Membership of Australia (CYCA) at this time (the morning of Friday, 27 December 2024 native time in Sydney, GMT+11 hours) the Race Committee have been suggested each crew members have been hit by the increase.
The 2 yachts concerned have been Flying Fish Arctos, a McIntyre 55, and Bowline, a Beneteau First 44.7.
Brisk downwind circumstances at first of the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Picture: Credit score: CYCA/Salty Dingo
The CYCA assertion studies that Flying Fish Arctos was crusing roughly 30 nautical miles east/south-east of Ulladulla, round 150 miles south of Sydney, when the incident occurred. Fellow crew members carried out CPR, however they might not revive their fellow crew.
Bowline was barely additional south, roughly 30nm east/north-east of Batemans Bay. Crew members administered CPR to the casualty, however officers from the Marine Space Command have been knowledgeable that CPR had been unsuccessful.
The assertion continues: “As these incidents are being handled by the Water Police and all relations are but to be contacted, we can not present additional particulars at this stage.
“Our ideas are with the crews, household and pals of the deceased.”
Man overboard at evening
It has been a difficult first day for the 104 boats racing within the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, an annual 628-mile bluewater traditional offshore which begins on Boxing Day from Sydney Harbour and attracts important curiosity in Australia.
There was one other probably critical incident in a single day when the Tasmanian yacht Porco Rosso had a person overboard. A crew member was reported to have been washed overboard at 0314hrs (native time) about 60 nautical miles off the NSW Coast.
Different yachts competing within the Sydney-Hobart race diverted to assist seek for the crew member within the water, and a rescue plane was dispatched to the world.
The crew member was separated from the boat by nearly 1.2 nautical miles in pitch black circumstances earlier than the crew safely recovered him.
Vice-Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Membership of Australia, David Jacobs, commented: “Going overboard is terrifying – doing it at evening is 10-fold terrifying.”
Nevertheless, he recommended the crew for his or her security protocols – the crew member’s private locator beacon was activated, alerting the Australian Maritime Security Authority, and the crew discovered and safely retrieved him from the water.
Hobart retirements
Sixteen yachts have retired within the first 20 hours of racing, together with lots of the anticipated front-runners for line honours.
They embrace Grasp Lock Comanche, which retired with mainsail injury. Comanche is the race course report holder and a four-times line honours winner. The 100-footer was main the race, roughly 63 miles off Inexperienced Cape, when the staff retired.

Grasp Lock Comanche racing within the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race earlier than retiring. Picture: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
Shortly after, Wild Oats, one other extremely fancied entrant which has twice received the race up to now, retired with rigging injury.
The earlier 12 months’s general IRC winner Alive has additionally stopped racing as a consequence of engine issues.
Three yachts are reported to have been dismasted, together with a Sunfast 330 racing double-handed and the Reichel Pugh Maxi 72 URM Group.
URM Group navigator Alice Parker reported: “I used to be downstairs, we have been about to get the A4 (uneven spinnaker) off, then there was an enormous bang and an enormous collapse. The mast broke 1.5 metres above the deck, proper above the devices.
“The boys did a extremely good job of slicing the rig away and we’re heading to Eden.
“We’re all fairly gutted. The boat was actually lit up. We have been doing rather well. We have been averaging 20 knots in 25 knots of breeze.”

URM Group racing within the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race earlier than dismasting. Picture: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
Quick run to Tasmania
Circumstances are understood to be quick, with a 20-25 knot north/north-easterly breeze for a lot of the fleet crusing down the New South Wales coast, however not but excessive, although forecast to construct because the fleet crosses the Bass Strait.
Christian Beck’s 100ft LawConnect is at present main the fleet to Hobart, Tasmania, adopted by the Volvo 70 Celestial, which can be main on IRC, and Grant Wharington with Wild Factor 100.
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