Two sailors have been killed in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race when they were fatally struck by sail booms during a night of rough weather.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The men's bodies returned to shore on Friday morning after they died aboard the Flying Fish Arctos and the Bowline as the famous race suffered its first fatalities in more than 25 years.
A 55-year-old man from Western Australia was killed on Flying Fish Arctos while changing one of the sails, which had been "moving violently throughout the night", NSW Police Superintendent Joseph McNulty said.
Flying Fish Arctos altered its course to arrive at Jervis Bay on Friday morning. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)
"It had requested urgent assistance as one of the members was struck in the back of the head by a boom," he told reporters on Friday, referring to a large horizontal pole at the bottom of a vessel's sail.
The man could not be revived.
Just hours later, a 65-year-old man from South Australia was fatally hit by the Bowline's boom, while another man injured his shoulder.
The injured man was taken to paramedics in Batemans Bay.
The dead men's names have not been released because not all of their families have been notified.
Both yachts have retired from the race - two of the 17 pulled out by 8.45am AEDT on Friday after a west-southwesterly change brought strong winds to the southern NSW coast and Bass Strait.
The deaths are the first in the race since 1998, when six sailors died in storms, triggering reforms to safety protocols.
The boats have been seized by police who are onboard collecting evidence.
"They're all pretty safe vessels, they go through stringent safety procedures before they proceed to sea," Supt McNulty said.
A police vessel escorted Bowline to Batemans Bay after a sailor was injured and couldn't be revived. (Paul Bramble/AAP PHOTOS)
Supt McNulty warned conditions could worsen overnight as the boats continue towards Tasmania.
"It's going to be a challenging night in the Bass Strait, big seas are coming," he said.
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Vice Commodore David Jacobs said the deaths would be investigated but many of the circumstances were still unknown.
"If there's something that boats can do to try and prevent this happening, we will implement it," he told reporters.
The identities of the two sailors have not been made public, but Mr Jacobs said several members of one boat were relatively new to the sport.
"But when you say they're an amateur crew, there are very specific safety requirements," he said.
Mr Jacobs stressed the race would continue and the conditions were not extreme.
"The conditions are challenging, but they're not excessive," he said.
The race conditions are not extreme, Cruising Yacht Club Vice Commodore David Jacobs says. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)
"So we've got sort of winds at about 25 knots coming from the north seas of round about two metres or thereabouts, so they're conditions that most of the sailors would have normally easily handled.
"I am personally surprised that we've lost a number of the super maxis."
NSW Police said the bodies arrived ashore just before 8.30am.
The fatality aboard Flying Fish Arctos occurred about 55km east-southeast of Ulladulla on the NSW south coast late on Thursday night.
Crew members attempted CPR but could not revive their teammate, notifying the Australian Maritime Safety Authority about 11.50pm.
Flying Fish Arctos altered its course to arrive at Jervis Bay on Friday morning.
Our thoughts this morning are with the two sailors that tragically lost their lives in the Sydney to Hobart race overnight. — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) The Sydney to Hobart is an Australian tradition, and it is heartbreaking that two lives have been lost at what should be a time of joy.We send our love…December 26, 2024
The crew member aboard Bowline was struck about 55km northeast of Batemans Bay about 2am and fell unconscious, with CPR unsuccessful.
A police vessel escorted the boat to Batemans Bay.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the sailors.
"We have sadly awoken to tragedy in the Sydney to Hobart with the awful news two sailors have lost their lives," he said.
"Our thoughts are with the crews, their families and loved ones at this deeply sad time."
NSW Premier Chris Minns also sent his condolences to the men's families.
Australian Associated Press