Sydney-Hobart regatta: deaths in sailing: organizers explain the continuation

Despite the two deaths in the traditional Australian sailing regatta from Sydney to the Tasmanian island capital Hobart, canceling the race was out of the question for the organizers.

It is a basic rule that after the start of a regatta the boater has the right and responsibility to decide whether it is safe to continue sailing, said David Jacobs of the organizing yacht club. “It is the skipper’s decision to continue or give up.” The boat operator can assess the local weather conditions and these vary greatly in a race over such a long distance, explained Jacobs.

Sailors who had an accident were considered experienced

On Boxing Day German time – and therefore on the Australian night – two crew members from different yachts died in the 79th edition of the race. Both were considered experienced sailors. A 55-year-old man on the “Flying Fish Arctos” was hit by the yacht’s main boom, and a 65-year-old man on the “Bowline” by the main sheet.

A complex security structure was created around the race, explained Jacobs. “If we break it down, break this one away.” It would not necessarily be safer for the boats if they tried to return to shore. They might have to go through even worse weather.

Wind speeds up to 70 km/h

Jacobs spoke of difficult and challenging conditions. During the night the wind speed reached up to 70 km/h and the waves were up to three meters high. He is sure that the conditions played a role in the accidents. However, the boats are made for such conditions and the teams are trained accordingly.

A crew member of the “Porco Rosso” was also washed overboard, but was pulled back into the boat by the crew, Jacobs reported.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences to the family, friends and relatives of the injured sailors via social media. The police are investigating the incidents.