Rolex Sydney Hobart Updates from CYCA and Maritime Police

Caro (Botin 52) (NZL) exits Sydney Harbour at the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. - Dec 26, 2024 © Salty Dingo

Further details are emerging from the overnight tragedy in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Vice Commodore, David Jacobs updated in a media conference at the Club at 0830hrs local time. Australian Police have also confirmed further details of the three incidents. The Police had boats already on patrol in the area as the fleet passed along the NSW coast. Helicopters were also on standby.

The two yachts who lost crew members are now under Police security while investigations take place - standard practice when there is a death at sea.

Vice Commodore Jacobs confirmed at the time of the media conference that 16 boats have retired, and three were dismasted. Two of the yachts, including Lock Master Comanche, had mainsail damage, the others suffered various equipment failures. Lock Master Comanche's mainsail split in two during the process of what skipper Matt Allen said was expected to be their final gybe of the race, that would take them back into the coast.

At the time of the media conference 88 boats were continuing in the race.

According to the official website the incidents occurred off Batemans Bay and Ulladulla - about 150nm from the SE corner of the Australian coast. Police said they understood that sail changes were being undertaken at the time of both incidents.

Flying Fish Arctos, (a McIntosh 55), was sailing approximately 30 nautical miles east/south-east of Ulladulla when the incident occurred. Fellow crew members performed CPR, on the man but they could not revive the 55yr old West Australian.

South Australian owned Bowline (a Beneteau First 44.7) South Australia) was approximately 30nm east/north-east of Batemans Bay and crew members administered CPR. A short time later officers from the Marine Area Command were informed that CPR on a 65yr old South Australian man had been unsuccessful.

On another entry a crew member, Luke Watkins (37yrs) was swept overboard at 0314hrs from Porco Rossa 50nm from Batemans Bay. Fortunately he was wearing a personal locator beacon which was activated, and he was recovered 1.2km from the race boat, and was recovered by his fellow crew members.

Jacobs told the media conference that there had been about a 25 knot northerly wind blowing from behind the boats and pushing them down the coast. The lead boats were experiencing speeds of between about 25 and 30 knots.

As forecast they are expected to to hit a westerly which will turn south westerly as a near Bass Strait.

Pip Hare a competitor in the Vendee Globe Race, who dismasted a week ago and is proceeding under jury rig to Melbourne, said in a video from upwind of the Sydney Hobart Yacht race fleet, that she was expecting winds initially of 35kts, increasing to 40kts with waves forecast of 5metres. She had taken down her Jury rig and was staying below to allow the storm to pass. She expected to be hove-to for eight hours.

Two official forecasting session were held - one a two days before the race start, and the other on the morning of the race, both were conducted by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, with comments from appropriate race officials in response to questions.

A significant part of both briefings was to clarify what peak gust/wave forecasts meant and that actual conditions could be significantly higher (40% in the instance of peak wave height).

Jacobs said the forecast was for strong winds to gale force winds. "These fleets can handle those winds easily. They're ocean racers. They're used to those winds. It was not extreme conditions."

All yachts are required to call race control before entering Bass Strait confirming their position and that they have made a considered decision to continue racing.

At last report the race was being led by the supermaxi, and last year's winner, Law Connect. Celestial a VOR70, skippered by CYCA Commodore Sam Haynes, was second overall and the 100ft Wild Thing lay third overall. Likely overall winner would appear to be Caro (NZL) a TP 52 lying in 6th place on the water.

For the full retirement list and reasons www.sail-world.com/news/282410