Both men died in separate incidents after being struck by the sail boom of their respective yachts during a night of wild weather that caused 16 vessels to retire. Quaden, a navigator on Flying Fish Arctos, suffered a fatal head injury near midnight on Thursday when the boom swung out unexpectedly.
Crew members administered CPR but were unable to save him, forcing the yacht to return to Jervis Bay with his body aboard.
Just hours later, Smith, a seasoned sailor competing in his fourth Sydney to Hobart, was fatally injured aboard Bowline when he was struck by the boom during a sail change. Despite the crew’s immediate efforts, Smith could not be resuscitated.
The tragedies have shaken the sailing community and prompted the race’s organisers to pledge a safety review, although conditions were deemed manageable for experienced ocean racers.
Both yachts involved have been seized for investigation, and police are preparing reports for the coroner.
Tributes poured in for the sailors, with Bowline skipper Ian Roberts calling Smith “a valued crew member and experienced yachtsman.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also expressed his condolences, calling the losses “heartbreaking.”
The incidents mark the first fatalities in the Sydney to Hobart race since the infamous 1998 event, which claimed six lives.
Despite the tragedies, the remaining fleet continues its journey toward Hobart, battling challenging conditions in what has been described as one of the most destructive nights in the race’s history.
Originally published by dtnzsports.
