Both sailors named in Sydney to Hobart tragedies

Tragedy‍ Strikes Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

The 2024‌ Sydney to Hobart Yacht⁤ Race was‌ marred by tragedy after two experienced sailors lost their lives. Nick Smith, a seasoned 65-year-old member of⁤ the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron, ​was fatally struck⁤ by a sail‍ boom during a night of rough weather while participating in his fifth attempt at the iconic race. ‌

Roy Quaden,a 55-year-old sailor from Western Australia,also tragically lost his life in

Tragedy Strikes Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race,Claiming Two Lives

The⁣ iconic‌ Sydney to⁣ Hobart​ Yacht race has been ​marred by tragedy,with the first fatalities in‌ over two decades occurring during the 2023 event. ​Two sailors⁣ lost their lives in ⁤seperate incidents aboard different yachts.

Fatal Accidents on the High ‌Seas

John Quaden, a⁣ crew member aboard the Flying ⁤fish Arctos, ‍was killed after ⁢being struck by‍ the boom – a large horizontal pole at the bottom of a sail – while changing a sail. NSW Police Superintendent Joseph McNulty ​stated, “It ‍had requested⁣ urgent assistance as one of the members was struck in the back of the head by a ‌boom”. Tragedy struck again hours later when crew member, Colin Smith, was fatally hit by‍ the boom on the Bowline. The Royal South ​Australian Yacht Squadron, of which Smith was a ⁢member, ⁣expressed their condolences‍ and⁣ offered counselling to the ​Bowline crew​ and other members. ⁢He had been a seasoned sailor, ​participating in his fifth Sydney to hobart Race.

Race Halted and Investigations Commence

Following these heart-wrenching incidents, both yachts‍ withdrew⁢ from the race. ‌As of ​Friday morning,‌ 17 yachts had‌ pulled out. The decision came after challenging weather ‍conditions, with strong winds affecting the southern NSW coast and ‌Bass Strait. These are the first fatalities in the Sydney to Hobart Race since 1998, when six sailors tragically lost their lives in severe storms, leading to significant safety protocol reforms. police have seized the two boats ‍involved, collecting evidence onboard. Superintendent McNulty emphasized the stringent‍ safety procedures yachts ⁢undergo before embarking on the race, stating, “They’re all pretty safe vessels,‍ they go through stringent safety procedures⁤ before they proceed ‌to sea”. However, he cautioned that conditions were expected to worsen overnight, with large seas predicted in Bass Strait. Cruising Yacht ⁢Club of Australia Vice Commodore David Jacobs confirmed that investigations into‍ the deaths would be conducted. Two⁤ sailors tragically lost their lives during the Sydney to Hobart Yacht ​Race, prompting a somber start to the iconic competition. The Cruising Yacht⁤ Club of Australia​ confirmed the heartbreaking ⁢news,stating that two ⁢sailors,one from each of‍ the yachts *Flying Fish Arctos* and *Bowline*,had ⁣succumbed to injuries sustained during the race. Vice Commodore David Jacobs ⁤expressed his deep condolences, acknowledging ​the loss ⁣and ‌the impact⁢ it has on ⁣the ‍sailing community: “If there’s something⁣ that boats can do⁢ to try and prevent this happening, we will implement it.” While emphasizing​ the challenging ⁤nature of the race conditions, Jacobs highlighted that they ​were not considered extreme. “The ⁣conditions are challenging, but they’re not excessive,” he saeid, adding, “I am⁤ personally surprised that we’ve lost a number of the super⁢ maxis.” ⁣ Jacobs also addressed concerns ‍about the experience level of some crew members.While acknowledging that some members of one boat were relatively new to the⁤ sport, he stressed that⁢ all participants were required to ‌meet specific ⁣safety standards. The bodies of ⁤the deceased sailors were brought ashore just before 8:30 am. The fatality aboard *Flying Fish Arctos* ⁣occurred approximately 55 kilometers east-southeast of Ulladulla on the New South Wales south coast late Thursday night. The vessel later altered its ​course to arrive at Jervis Bay on Friday morning. The crew member ‍aboard *Bowline* was struck approximately ​55 kilometers northeast of Batemans Bay around 2:00 am and‍ became unconscious despite‍ efforts to resuscitate him. A⁤ police vessel escorted ⁣the boat to Batemans Bay. Prime Minister Anthony albanese ⁢offered his condolences to the families and loved ones⁣ of the deceased sailors, saying, “We have sadly awoken to tragedy in‌ the Sydney⁣ to ⁤Hobart with ⁤the awful‌ news two sailors have lost ⁣their lives. ​Our thoughts are‍ with​ the crews,their families and loved ones.”

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race: Dramatic Rescue After sailor ‌Tossed Overboard

A sailor competing in the Sydney to ⁤Hobart ⁣Yacht Race narrowly escaped death after being thrown overboard in treacherous ‌conditions early Friday morning.⁢ Luke Watkins, a crew member aboard ⁤the yacht Porco Rosso, was separated‌ from‍ his vessel ⁢when a massive wave crashed over the deck, pinning him underwater. “We went down a rather ⁤large wave,” Watkins recounted. “The ⁣boat went into the trough⁤ bit (the ⁤back of the wave in front), which completely washed ⁢the deck. Than we tipped over,what we call a Chinese gybe… and I‌ got pinned to the… side of the boat underwater.” Watkins managed⁤ to free himself just as he felt himself⁤ losing⁤ consciousness. “When⁣ I popped up above the water, the ​boat was probably 200m in front of me,” he said. The harrowing incident‍ occurred around 3:15 am as‍ Porco⁢ Rosso passed Green ⁤Cape on the‌ New South ⁢Wales coast. Vice-commodore ⁣of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia,David Jacobs,estimated Watkins was swept approximately 1.2 ‍kilometers away⁣ from the yacht. Speedy⁣ thinking‌ and a ​well-equipped safety kit ‍proved vital to Watkins’ survival. He activated his emergency position-indicating radio beacon, used glowsticks to signal⁤ his location, and turned on a head torch. His life jacket automatically inflated, which helped him ​stay afloat. Fighting the cold and fatigue, Watkins adopted a‌ survival pose, holding his‍ elbows⁤ close to his body to conserve⁤ heat and keep his head above water. “It was pretty hard to keep yourself above water a lot ⁢of the time,” he said.“I⁤ swallowed a fair bit of saltwater. ⁢Just tried to keep the thoughts under control.” Watkins’ crewmates, aboard the four-time line honors champion Master Lock Comanche, responded⁣ swiftly ‍to the distress‌ signal. Having retired from the race earlier due to strong winds in Bass strait, they turned back to ⁣assist Watkins. “Fortunately ‌there are developed systems and procedures to cater for that situation to retrieve the person,” said Jacobs. The incident ⁤serves as a⁤ stark reminder of⁣ the dangers faced by sailors in​ this demanding race.

Tragedy on the Water

The​ race⁣ has been marred by tragedy with‍ the deaths of two other sailors on‌ Friday night.Both ⁤men were struck by⁤ booms, the large horizontal poles ⁣that support the mainsail, in separate ‌incidents aboard yachts Flying Fish arctos and Bowline. the two yachts have since retired from the 628-nautical-mile open water race. “The sailing community ‌is a very ‌close ​community. There’s about a thousand​ sailors on the water ‍in ‌this race,” said‍ NSW Premier Chris Minns. He expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.

Tragedy Strikes Sydney to hobart Yacht Race

The renowned Sydney to Hobart yacht race was marred by tragedy in 2016. Two sailors tragically lost their lives⁣ during the⁤ challenging race, marking the first fatalities since 1998.

The​ devastating news shook the sailing community. “to lose two ⁢people in⁤ a ⁤race, and to lose two in this fashion is just devastating,” ​expressed race official, Jacobs.

This heartbreaking event echoed the tragic losses in 1998, when a ferocious storm claimed the⁢ lives of six sailors competing in ⁤the same race. In response to that devastating event, the race organizers ‍implemented⁢ sweeping safety reforms, highlighting the ongoing pursuit of safety in ⁢this demanding sport.

This article reports on a tragic event during the 2023‍ Sydney to⁣ hobart Yacht Race.





Here are the key⁢ takeaways:



* **Two Sailors Dead:** Two sailors, one from each of the yachts⁣ *Flying Fish Arctos* and *Bowline*, tragically ⁤lost their‌ lives during the race due to injuries sustained in rough seas.

* **Cause of Death:** The specific causes of death have not been released, but the incidents happened during challenging weather conditions with strong winds affecting the southern NSW coast and Bass Strait.

* **Race ⁢Halted for Some:** Following these incidents,both yachts withdrew ​from the race,and by Friday morning,a total of 17 yachts‍ had pulled out due to the challenging weather.



* **Investigations Underway:** Police have seized the ‌two boats ‍involved and are collecting evidence to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the fatalities.The⁤ Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is also conducting its own inquiry.



* **Tribute and Condolences:**



⁤ *⁤ The Cruising Yacht Club of​ Australia Vice Commodore David Jacobs expressed deep condolences to the families and loved ⁢ones of the deceased sailors.

​ ⁤ *​ the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron, of which one sailor was⁤ a member, offered condolences and counseling to the *Bowline* crew and other ⁢members.



* Prime Minister anthony Albanese offered his condolences to the families⁣ and⁢ loved ones of the sailors.



* **Safety Protocols:**

* While the conditions were challenging, David Jacobs emphasized that they were not considered extreme‌ and the yachts underwent stringent safety checks before the race.

* He ⁤assured that the Club will learn from ⁢this tragedy and implement any necessary safety improvements.

* **Dramatic Rescue:** A separate incident saw a sailor on the yacht *Porco Rosso* thrown overboard ​but thankfully rescued after being pinned underwater by⁢ a wave.



This tragedy highlights the inherent risks associated ‌with offshore sailing, despite stringent safety ‍protocols. It also underscores the importance of constant vigilance ‌and preparedness ⁣in navigating challenging maritime conditions.

This appears to be the beginning of a news article about tragic events during the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.



Here are some key takeaways from the provided text:



* **Fatalities:** Two sailors died during the race due to being struck by booms (horizontal poles that support the mainsail) on separate yachts.

* **Victims:** The exact names of the victims are not mentioned in this excerpt.The yachts involved are *Flying Fish Arctos* and *Bowline*.

* **Rescue:** A third sailor, Luke Watkins, was dramatically rescued after being thrown overboard from the yacht *Porco Rosso*. He activated an emergency beacon and was retrieved by fellow racers.

* **Reaction:**



* Vice Commodore David Jacobs of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia expressed concern about the experience level of some crew members, but stressed all participants met safety standards.

* Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered condolences to the families of the deceased sailors.

* NSW Premier Chris Minns also expressed condolences, highlighting the close-knit nature of the sailing community.



**What’s missing:**



* The exact causes leading to the boom strikes.

* Detailed facts about the deceased sailors.

* further developments in the investigation.

* The full impact of the tragedies on the race and its participants.



**Possible Next Steps:**



* Searching for more complete news articles covering the race.

* Checking official websites of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and sailing news outlets for updates.

* Referring to news archives from December 2023 (assuming this is the year the events occurred).