Two sailors have died on separate boats during a lengthy yacht race in Australia.
One sailor each on the Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline yachts were killed during the 722-mile race from Sydney to Hobart.
They were both killed after being hit by their yacht’s boom – the large horizontal pole at the bottom of a sail.
Some 15 other boats have now withdrawn from the race over safety concerns due to poor weather conditions – including Master Lock Comanche, who was the favourite to win, Sky News reports.
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), which administers the race, said the race would ‘absolutely’ continue despite the deaths.
David Jacobs, vice-commodore of the CYCA, added: ‘The conditions are challenging, but they’re not excessive.
‘So we’ve got sort of winds at about 25 knots coming from the north seas around about two metres or thereabouts, so the conditions that most of the sailors would normally easily handle.’
The names of the sailors killed have not yet been released.
The incident aboard Flying Fish Arctos occurred around 30 nautical miles east-southeast of Ulladulla on the New South Wales south coast.
The crew member aboard Bowline was struck approximately 30 nautical miles east/north-east of Batemans Bay and fell unconscious.
Crews on both ships attempted CPR, but both were unsuccessful.
A police vessel was escorting Bowline to Batemans Bay, where she is expected to arrive later on Friday morning.
The CYCA added in a statement: ‘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.
‘Our thoughts are with the crews, family and friends of the deceased.’
The deaths come 26 years after six sailors were killed in storms during the 1998 running of the race, which triggered a state coronial inquest and mass reforms to the safety protocols that govern the race.
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