Update – 27 December 2024 – 6.00 pm
The two sailors killed in Friday morning’s Sydney to Hobart tragedy have been identified as Roy Quaden, 55, and Nick Smith, 65.
NSW Police provided an update on Friday afternoon saying the two sailors died in separate incidents as the fleet of 104 vessels made its way down the NSW south coast.
Both sailors died after being struck by a sail boom, according to the Sydney to Hobart race committee.
Mr Quaden was a member of the Flying Fish Arctos crew, while Mr Smith was aboard the yacht Bowline.
Superintendent Joe McNulty, commander in charge of Marine Area Command, shared what may have contributed to the shock deaths.
“Early investigations (suggest) that those vessels may have been changing sails at the time, so they weren’t actually sailing with the wind,” Spt McNulty said.
“That creates a whole different set of circumstances … so that may have contributed to the deaths.”
by MBN Team
Statement from race organisers – 27 December 2024 – 5.35 am.
There have been, tragically, two separate deaths overnight in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, involving the vessels Flying Fish Arctos (NSW) and Bowline (SA).
FLYING FISH ARCTOS, Sail n: 7551, Bow n: 51, Owner: Flying Fish Online, Country: NSW, Division: PHS, Design: Radford 50
BOWLINE, Sail No: 10447, Owner: Ian Roberts, Skipper: Ian Roberts, Design: Beneteau First 44.7
The Race Committee were advised both crew members were hit by the boom.
Flying Fish Arctos was sailing approximately 30 nautical miles east/south-east of Ulladulla when the incident occurred. Fellow crew members performed CPR, but they could not revive their fellow crew.
Bowline 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 had been unsuccessful.
As these incidents are being dealt with by the Water Police and all family members are yet to be contacted, we cannot provide further details at this stage.
Our thoughts are with the crews, family and friends of the deceased.
Further information will be provided as it becomes available.
