Sailors killed in double Sydney to Hobart tragedy named ahead of ‘challenging night in the Bass Strait’

Roy Quaden, 55, and Nick Smith, 65, dead after being struck by booms on yachts Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline

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Two sailors on separate Sydney to Hobart yachts, Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline, have died at sea on the first night of the race. They were fatally struck by booms – a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the mainsail – on their respective boats amid wild weather conditions that forced line honours favourite Master Lock Comanche to withdraw, among mass retirements.

The incident aboard Flying Fish Arctos occurred about 30 nautical miles [55.5kms] east-south-east of Ulladulla on the NSW south coast, with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) receiving a mayday call just before midnight.

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