Race organizers in Australia said Friday that two sailors have died in separate incidents in the Sydney to Hobart Bluewater Classic.
Both crew members were hit by a strong blast as the boats headed south along the New South Wales coast after setting off from Sydney Harbor in the race, traditionally held each year on Boxing Day.
Two people died in two separate incidents
New South Wales Police said they were informed just before midnight on Thursday that a crew member of one of the entries had been hit by a sail surge. A few hours later, a crew member from another ship was also reported hit by the sail surge.
Other teams tried to revive him, but failed.
Event organizers identified the Flying Fish Arctos and Bouline as the boats involved.
“As these incidents are being dealt with by water police and all family members have not yet been contacted, we cannot provide further details at this stage,” organizers said in a statement.
Weather plays an important role
The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is an annual yacht racing event organized by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, New South Wales on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart, Tasmania.
[Weatherisanimportantfactorintheracefirstheldin1945Windsandconditionsoftenchangerapidly[1945मेंपहलीबारआयोजितकीगईदौड़मेंमौसमएकमहत्वपूर्णकारकहैहवाएंऔरस्थितियांअक्सरतेजीसेबदलतीरहतीहैं।
In 1998, when a deep depression struck the fleet in Bass Strait, six people died when five boats sank.
jsi, ftm/msh (AFP, dpa, SID, Reuters, AP)