Sailing – Australian Christmas regatta turns into tragedy

To the traditional Sydney-Hobart-Regatta On December 26th, thousands of spectators line Sydney Harbor. The mood is exuberant, many people are picnicking on the coast, while the sailing boats are fighting to see who can get out of the harbor first and out to sea to set sail for the almost 1,170 kilometers to Hobart.

Since 1945, the starting signal has been on Australian Boxing Day – Boxing Day – at 1 p.m. After the boats leave Sydney harbor, they continue along the coast south to Tasmania. There the yachts sail up the Derwent River to the finish line in the Tasmanian capital Hobart.

This year too, the boats started on time – in bright sunshine and a good bit of wind – conditions perfect for a sailing regatta, it seemed. But a few hours later, between midnight and 2 a.m., conditions off Australia’s east coast apparently became so difficult that two fatal accidents occurred.

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Hit by the tree

The respective crew members were both hit by the mast of their yachts and, despite all efforts, could not be revived after the accidents. The affected sailing boats “Flying Fish Arctos” and “Bowline” canceled the opening race after the accidents, and the Australian water police are investigating the incidents.

Another sailor fell overboard due to the stormy conditions. He was swept overboard by a strong gust of wind and drifted about a kilometer before his crew was able to fish him out of the water. Several other boats voluntarily quit the race early after conditions became too difficult. Despite the incidents, according to the organizers, the regatta will continue for now. The first boats were expected in Hobart on Friday or early Saturday.

One of the most difficult regattas

David Jacobs from the organizing Cruising Yacht Club of Australia told the Australian agency AAP that the weather forecast had not warned of “deadly conditions.” Strong to stormy winds were forecast. “These fleets can handle these conditions,” Jacobs said. They are ocean-going yachts that are used to such winds. And: “There were no extreme conditions.” “Flying Fish Arctos,” for example, is a 50-foot yacht that has already survived 17 Sydney-Hobart regattas since it was built in 2001. The boat is designed so that it could actually sail around the world.

Basically, the regatta is considered one of the most difficult offshore regattas in the world. Nevertheless, in addition to large yachts, smaller boats also take part. That’s why two winners are always chosen – one based on time sailed – the yacht that arrives at the destination port in Hobart first wins. On the other hand, a winner is determined based on a calculated time, whereby the sailed times are compared with various characteristics of the yachts.

Memories of 1998

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote on Friday morning (local time). Platform Xthat the thoughts of Australians are with the two sailors who “tragically lost their lives overnight in the Sydney to Hobart regatta.” The regatta is “an Australian tradition” and it is “heartbreaking that two people have lost their lives at a time of joy.” He expressed his “deepest condolences” to the families, friends and relatives.

This is not the first time that the Sydney-Hobart Regatta has lost participants due to adverse weather conditions. When a storm with strong gusts of wind hit in 1998, six people died, including Olympian Glyn Charles. Over 50 people had to be rescued from distress at sea.