The 2024 Sydney to Hobart yacht race, one of the world’s most grueling and prestigious sailing events, has been marred by tragedy despite a historic back-to-back line honours victory by supermaxi yacht LawConnect. As the racing community celebrated LawConnect’s triumphant finish in the early hours of December 28th, the euphoria was tempered by the heartbreaking news that two sailors had lost their lives in separate incidents during the race’s turbulent first night at sea.
A Bittersweet Victory
Skippered by Christian Beck, LawConnect crossed the finish line on the River Derwent in Hobart at 2:35 am local time, completing the 628 nautical mile course in 1 day, 13 hours, 35 minutes and 13 seconds. The win marks the third line honours title for LawConnect, which also claimed victory under the name Perpetual Loyal in 2016. However, the usual dockside celebrations were notably subdued out of respect for the two competitors who perished in the challenging conditions.
“We’re not doing any celebrations on the boat. We’ll be doing that quietly later on,” said LawConnect crew member Tony Mutter, speaking on behalf of an exhausted and somber Christian Beck. “The mood onboard absolutely became more sombre. We were absolutely surprised and just felt for the other competitors.”
Rough Seas Claim Two Lives
Nick Smith, a 65-year-old sailing veteran from South Australia, died after being thrown across the deck of the yacht Bowline and striking his head on a winch. In an unrelated incident, 55-year-old Roy Quaden from Western Australia was fatally struck by the boom aboard Flying Fish Arctos. The tragic deaths, the first in the iconic race since the devastating 1998 event that claimed six lives, have left the tight-knit sailing community in shock and mourning.
“[The conditions] were the worst of my 11 Sydney to Hobart races,” revealed Mutter. “I know my wife appreciated my texts from the boat, as did my adult kids. They were very grateful to hear that we were okay.”
Fierce Competition Cut Short
Pre-race forecasts of strong winds had fueled speculation that the course record of 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds could fall. The fleet’s early pace seemed to support this, with LawConnect and rival supermaxi Comanche trading the lead as they powered down the New South Wales coast. However, Comanche’s hopes were dashed when mainsail damage forced her retirement early on December 27th, leaving LawConnect to complete a history-making, albeit somber, victory.
Investigations and Reflections
As of 2 am on December 28th, 27 of the 104 yachts that began the 79th edition of the Sydney to Hobart race had withdrawn, citing issues ranging from electrical problems to crew injuries. An official investigation into the two fatalities will be conducted, as the sailing world reflects on the inherent risks and challenges of offshore racing, even for the most experienced and well-prepared competitors.
The overall handicap winner of the 2024 Sydney to Hobart race may take days to be determined, with NSW yacht Celestial V70 and supermaxi Wild Thing 100 among the top contenders as they battle up the River Derwent. However, the focus for now remains on honoring the lives and legacies of the two sailors lost, supporting their loved ones, and ensuring that crucial lessons are learned to enhance safety in future editions of this iconic test of skill, endurance, and the indomitable spirit of the sea.
