Key posts
Master Lock Comanche among 12 yachts to retire
By Nick Newling
Master Lock Comanche, the race leader and favourite to win line honours, has retired from the Sydney to Hobart with reporting a damaged mainsail. After leading the race, and it’s 2017 record setting time, the yacht retired off the coast of Green Cape. This is the eighth time Comanche has raced to Hobart and the first time it has retired.
Master Lock Comanche sailing out of Sydney Heads yesterday morning.Credit: Getty
URM Group, another major competitor for both line honours and the Tattersall Cup, was forced to exit the race after being dismasted.
The other retirements are:
- Alive – engine issues
- Transcendence Rudy Project – dismasted (broke in three places)
- Ciao Bella – steering issues
- Philosopher – dismasted
- Calibre 12 – mainsail damage
- Centennial 7 – mainsail damage
- Porco Rosso
- Bacchanal
- Mayfair
- Rum Rebellion
- Wild Oats
- Zeus
Two dead in tragic night on the sea
By Nick Newling
Two racers have tragically passed away overnight, as they were both struck by the boom of their ship, in separate incidents.
The first incident took place aboard the yacht Flying Fish Arctos, which was approximately 30 nautical miles east/southeast of Ulladulla. CPR was performed on the individual by their crew members, but was unsuccessful.
The second incident took place on Bowline while 30 nautical miles east/northeast of Batemans Bay. Crew members also administer CPR, which was also unsuccessful.
The incidents are currently being investigated, and we will bring you updates from police and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia as we receive them.
More to come.
Day two underway
By Nick Newling
Welcome to day two of the Sydney to Hobart live blog, I’m Nick Newling and I’ll be taking you through today’s events.
We are still reeling from news overnight of two tragic deaths on the water, and will bring you updates as they come.
We have also seen a series of high-profile retirements, which have fundamentally changed the nature of this year’s race.
More to come.
