The 79th Rolex Sydney Hobart Race was not even a day old when the sad news came from Australia on the evening of Boxing Day: Two participants had died independently of each other in the Christmas classic Down Under. The organisers did not initially provide many details, stating that the families of those affected had not yet all been informed.
What is known so far is that the accidents with fatal consequences occurred during the Australian night and therefore over the day German time on Boxing Day. Two different yachts were involved. One sailor from the crew of ten on the McIntyre 55 "Flying Fish Arctos" (Australia) died in an accident on board. There was one fatality on the South Australian Beneteau First 44.7 "Bowline", which according to the crew lists was racing with a crew of seven.
According to the organisers, the Race Committee of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race was informed by the teams that the crew members who died had each been hit by the main boom. "Flying Fish Arctos" was sailing 30 nautical miles east-south-east of Ulladulla when the tragic accident occurred. "Bowline" was sailing 30 nautical miles east-north-east of Batemens Bay when the accident occurred.
The crew members carried out resuscitation measures, but had to inform officers from the Police Marine Area Command (MAC) a short time later that the attempts had been unsuccessful. The organisers' press release on the evening of 26 December (German time) stated: "As the accidents are being processed by the Australian Marine Police and not all family members have been informed, we are unable to provide further details at this time."
The organisers added: "Our thoughts are with the crews, family and friends of the deceased."
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
