Two sailors died during a Sydney to Hobart Boxing Day yacht race, New South Wales Police announced on Thursday.
The victims were struck by sail booms overnight in two separate incidents about two hours apart, involving the vessels Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline.
“Flying Fish Arctos was sailing approximately 30 nautical miles east/south-east of Ulladulla when the incident occurred… (while) Bowline was approximately 30nm east/north-east of Batemans Bay,” Rolex Sydney Hobart said in a social media post.
Crews from the boats performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) but could not revive the sailors, according to race organizers.
Several boats have retired from the race due to sail damage.
The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is an annual Boxing Day racing event hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, New South Wales, and finishing in Hobart, Tasmania.
