Two participants in the Sydney-Hobart yacht race died after suffering accidents with the boom of their boats, according to theRace Committee.
Roy Quaden, 55, from Western Australia, was a crew member on board the Flying Fish Arctos (NSW). He is known to have been struck by the yacht’s boom during an incident that occurred overnight approximately 30 nautical miles east/southeast of Ulladulla NSW. Crew members performed CPR on him, but to no avail.
The other deceased is Nick Smith, 65, from South Australia, a member of the Bowline (SA) crew. It was his fifth participation in the Sydney-Hobart. He suffered the accident while sailing approximately 30 nautical miles east/northeast of Batemans Bay
Although it was initially thought that he was also hit by the boom, it seems that he was hit by the yacht’s mainsheet. “Unfortunately he hit his head on the winch and that’s what killed him,” said David Jacobs, vice-commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the race organiser. Another crew member was injured in this accident, suffering a fractured shoulder
“The boom is a part of the boat that holds the sail to the mast. It was moving violently during the night in difficult maritime conditions,” said Joe McNulty, superintendent for the New South Wales region, when giving information on how the accidents could have occurred, according to EFE. The Flying Fish Arctos has arrived at Jervis Bay harbour and the Bowline is in Batemans Bay.
Another crew member was rescued in the water
Luke Watkins,a crew member on board the Porco Rosso, was also swept overboard shortly after 3am, but rescue teams found him 1.2 nautical miles from the boat. Three other boats retired after being “dismasted”, while two others retired due to damage to the mainsail.
Weather reports indicate that at around 4 a.m. wind gusts of up to 80 kilometers per hour were recorded