- Supermaxi LawConnect Earned Line Honors
- 'Somber' celebrations for victorious crew
- The tragic death of two sailors continues
A 'somber' LawConnect delayed celebrations after taking back-to-back honor victories in a Sydney to Hobart race marred by the deaths of two sailors.
The supermaxi skippered by Christian Beck crossed the River Derwent finish line first at 2:35 a.m. on Saturday in a time of one day, 13 hours, 35 minutes and 13 seconds.
The usual champagne and boisterous cheering were absent regarding two men who died at sea during bad weather on Thursday's first night of sailing.
South Australian Nick Smith, 65, was on board Bowline when he was thrown to the other side of the yacht and hit his head on a winch.
In a separate incident, Roy Quaden, 55, from Western Australia was hit by the boating boom while on the Flying Fish Arctos.
'We won't have any celebrations on the ship. We’ll do it quietly later,” said LawConnect team member Tony Mutter.
A 'somber' LawConnect will delay celebrations after taking back-to-back honor victories in a Sydney to Hobart race marred by the deaths of two sailors (pictured LawConnect crew member Tony Mutter)
The supermaxi skippered by Christian Beck crossed the River Derwent finish line first at 2:35 a.m. on Saturday in a time of one day, 13 hours, 35 minutes and 13 seconds.
Tony Mutter said the conditions were the worst of his 11 races from Sydney to Hobart (pictured)
Mutter spoke to the media in place of Beck, who suffered food poisoning in the final hours of the race.
Mutter said he was told about the two deaths the next morning.
We were quite busy. “We were focused 100 percent on the race,” he said.
'Our navigator knew this and had to choose the right moment to let us know.
'(The atmosphere on board) became absolutely more sombre. We were absolutely surprised and sorry for the other competitors.'
An inquest will be held into the deaths, the first fatalities at the event since 1998, when six sailors perished in severe storms.
Mutter said the conditions were the worst of his 11 races from Sydney to Hobart.
“I know my wife appreciated my text messages from the boat, as did my adult children,” he said.
Nick Smith, 65, was on board Bowline when he was thrown to the other side of the yacht and hit his head on a winch.
In a separate incident, Roy Quaden, 55, from Western Australia was struck by a boom while on board the Flying Fish Arctos.
“They were very grateful to know that we were okay.”
LawConnect's hopes received a boost when rival and fellow supermaxi Master Lock Comanche retired with mainsail damage early Friday morning while leading the fleet.
The strong winds predicted before the race led some to predict the record time of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds, while the yachts capsized by Beck would be damaged.
By 2 a.m. Saturday, 27 of the 104 members of the initial fleet had withdrawn, citing problems including electrical problems and crew injuries.
Mutter said LawConnect prevented damage to the sail and his crewmates only suffered “bumps and bruises.”
This is the third time LawConnect has earned these honors, following initial success in 2016 as Perpetual Loyal.