LawConnect takes line honours in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, securing its second consecutive victory. However, the celebration is marred by the tragic loss of two sailors during the race.
Supermaxi LawConnect has won back-to-back line honours in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, but the event has been overshadowed by the deaths of two sailors. Christian Beck, who also skippered the 100ft vessel in 2023, was at the helm as it crossed the River Derwent finish line in Hobart at 2.35am on Saturday. LawConnect’s time was one day, 13 hours, 35 minutes and 13 seconds, short of the race record of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds.
During rough weather on Thursday’s first night of sailing in the 79th edition of the 628 nautical mile event, South Australian Nick Smith, 65, aboard Bowline, was thrown across the yacht and hit his head on a winch. West Australian Roy Quaden, 55, and South Australian Nick Smith, 65, were killed during the Sydney to Hobart. LawConnect’s hopes received a boost when main rival Master Lock Comanche retired with mainsail damage early on Friday morning when leading the fleet. Strong winds forecast pre-race prompted some to predict the race record would fall, while Beck tipped yachts would be damaged. At 2am on Saturday, 27 of the 104-strong starting fleet had retired citing problems including electrical issues and crew injuries. NSW 70ft Celestial V70 is on track for a second place finish about 20 nautical miles behind LawConnect, with supermaxi Wild Thing 100 in third. LawConnect was the first yacht out of Sydney Heads on Boxing Day, but Comanche powered ahead down the NSW coast in a blustery north-easterly. After finishing second in three consecutive races, LawConnect pipped Comanche by just 51 seconds in 2023 in a battle up the River Derwent. It is the third time LawConnect has claimed line honours, after success in 2016 as Perpetual Loyal under Anthony Bell
YACHTING SYDNEY TO HOBART LAWCONNECT RACE DEATHS
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