Two sailors have died after being struck on their yachts during a race in Australia amid needy weather conditions, organisers have said.
Both were taking part in the 722-mile-extfinished Sydney to Hobart yacht race and passed away overnight, race organisers Rolex said in a statement.
They said one sailor each on the entrants Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline was finished after being struck by their yacht’s boom – a huge horizontal pole at the bottom of a sail.
The names of the crew members who died have not been freed yet.
Meanwhile, 15 other yachts – including favourite Master Lock Comanche – withdrew from the race over the weather.
Rolex then said Flying Fish Arctos was sailing approximately 30 nautical miles (nm) east/south-east of Ullaunkeena when their incident occurred.
Later, Bowline was around 30nm east/north-east of Batemans Bay when a sailor was struck. Crew members on both yachts superviseed CPR but were unprosperous at resuscitating the sailors.
“As these incidents are being dealt with by the Water Police and all family members are yet to be communicateed, we cannot provide further details at this stage,” Rolex compriseed.
“Our thoughts are with the crews, family and frifinishs of the destopd. Further inestablishation will be provided as it becomes useable.”
Read more from Sky News:
Reestablish UK membership overconsents Tories, party claims
WHO chief ‘at Yemen airport’ during Israeli air strikes
According to the race’s official website, Flying Fish Arctos is manned by 12 people, including veterans of previous races.
Bowline was also manned by a skipper, a navigator and seven other crew members.
The race will persist as the escapet persists its passage to Constitution Dock in Hobart, with the first boats awaited to reach procrastinateedr on Friday or punctual Saturday morning.
