Australian supermaxi LawConnect secured consecutive line honors in the Sydney-Hobart ocean race early Saturday, leading a fleet impacted by the deaths of two sailors during severe weather conditions. LawConnect, the 100-foot defending champion captained by Christian Beck, arrived first in Hobart after main competitor Comanche withdrew due to a damaged mainsail on the first night.
The crew navigated to victory along the final stretch of Tasmania's River Derwent in the dark, early hours of the morning following a day-and-a-half of drama since the fleet departed a sunny Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day. LawConnect crossed the finish line with a winning time of one day, 13 hours, 35 minutes, and 13 seconds, according to the official race tracker. Fans on the dock welcomed her arrival, but there were no signs of the customary celebrations aboard, as shown in a livestream by the race organizers. Celestial, a 70-footer aiming for the Tattersall Cup for the overall handicap race, came in second, finishing a little over two-and-a-half hours later. Wild Thing secured third place. 'It was challenging conditions, probably the roughest race I've done out of the 11 that I have done,' stated LawConnect sailing master Tony Mutter. 'But we came through OK. We didn't break too much stuff, and people are OK, we have got a few bumps and bruises,' he told reporters in Hobart, explaining that his skipper was unavailable due to a stomach bug. The crew encountered 35-45 knot gales downwind out of Sydney, large waves, and tricky currents, he said. 'We are obviously hugely disappointed in the news that we heard during the race with the loss of a couple of fellow competitors, and our heartfelt condolences go out to all the friends and family,' Mutter said. 'We are obviously not doing any celebrations on the boat, and we will do that quietly later on.' First fatalities since 1998 Weather is a critical factor in the 628-nautical-mile race, first held in 194
Sydney-Hobart Sailing Lawconnect Comanche Fatalities
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
All-Filipino Crew to Race in Sydney to HobartAn all-Filipino crew of 15 sailors will participate in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, making history as one of the first international teams from the Philippines to compete in this renowned event.
Read more »
All-Filipino Crew Sets Sail in Sydney to Hobart Yacht RaceFor the first time in its history, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race will feature an all-Filipino crew of 15 sailors aboard the Centennial. The crew, comprised of members from the Philippines' national team and the Philippines navy, is excited to participate in this iconic ocean classic.
Read more »
All-Filipino Crew to Make History in Sydney to Hobart Yacht RaceAn all-Filipino crew of 15 sailors will participate in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, marking another 'first' in the history of the classic ocean race.
Read more »
All-Pinoy crew makes history in Sydney-Hobart yacht raceSYDNEY—There are plenty of “firsts” in the history of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race which was first held in 1945—an all-Filipino crew of 15 sailors makes it another as the annual ocean classic began on Thursday.
Read more »
Organizers say two sailors have died in Sydney to Hobart yacht race amid stormy first nightThe Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Sydney, which administers the yacht race, said Friday, Dec. 27, that one sailor each on entrants Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline were killed after being struck by the boom, a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail.
Read more »
Two sailors die after sail boat pole strikes in Sydney-Hobart yacht raceTragedy strikes the prestigious Sydney to Hobart yacht race in Australia as two sailors die to traumatic hits from sail booms - boat poles that hold down sails and swing with the wind
Read more »