The Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been rocked by the deaths of two sailors in separate incidents involving booms, casting a shadow over the competition known for its challenging conditions.
The first incident unfolded just before midnight when a crew member on the yacht Flying Fish Arctos was fatally struck by a boom while the vessel was sailing 30 nautical miles east/south-east of Ulladulla. Despite immediate CPR by fellow crew members, they were unable to revive their colleague.
Two hours later, tragedy struck again aboard the yacht Bowline, where another sailor suffered the same fate. Positioned 30 nautical miles east/north-east of Batemans Bay, the crew of Bowline also attempted CPR, but their efforts were in vain. The New South Wales Water Police have been engaged, but the identities of the deceased remain undisclosed as families are yet to be notified.
Flying Fish Arctos, a prominent training yacht with a crew complement of 10 plus a skipper and navigator, and Bowline, with a crew of seven plus navigational staff, were both part of the competitive lineup.
The race has seen further disruption with eleven boats, including the favoured Master Lock Comanche, pulling out due to various issues. Master Lock Comanche, a four-time line honours winner and the race record holder, was leading when it was forced to withdraw. Currently, LawConnect holds the lead in the race.
Despite having sailed the World’s oceans equivalent to two circumnavigations, I have never engaged in ocean racing as, in my view, such races cause the crew to violate the principles of good seamanship. A good skipper should never push a vessel to its physical limits for an extended period nor test the crew’s threshold of fatigue.
Many of the crewmen who participate in races such as the Sydney-Hobart are Sunday sailors unused to extended periods at sea and ill-prepared for unforeseen emergencies.
This is not to say that all accidents can be avoided but it seems to me that the danger of being clipped by a boom is greatly diminished if the vessel is under shortened sail appropriate to the conditions.
I had a racing mate who always threw off at my alleged over-cautious attitude. That was until he got us dismasted near Indonesia during a delivery trip.
The yacht racing fraternity has more in common with boy-racers than salty cruisers.
Yes i agree with you.
But let’s not be kill joys we have plenty enough already.
You have to admire the fact they push the boundaries and consequently yachting develops not the way I do it or you, but it is what it is.
Fun to watch
If we were all the same and were risk adverse life would really BORING…
ah, boys will be boys…..