Two sailors have been killed in separate incidents in the treacherous Sydney to Hobart yacht race, officials said on Friday, as a string of yachts retired in powerful winds and high seas.

Two people taking part in Australia's annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race have died in separate incidents, according to police. Both crew members died in separate incidents after being hit by a boom - the large pole attached horizontally to the bottom of a sail.

Champagne corks often pop and loud, boisterous cheers are usually heard around Constitution Dock when the Sydney to Hobart line honors winner finishes in the Tasmanian state capital.

The boat won the Tattersall Cup, awarded after taking into account boat size and other factors, for the race, in which 2 sailors were killed.

Ron Epstein was a casual sailor until he decided he wanted to race. Now his boat is the only U.S. entry at the event.

There have been plenty of “firsts” in the history of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race which was first held in 1945.

Two sailors died in separate boom accidents during the first night of the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race, marking the event's first fatalities in 26 years.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Sydney said Friday 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.

Sydney to Hobart organisers are hoping to hold tributes to the two sailors who died at sea on the opening day of the 2024 yacht race.

The historical Sydney Hobart Yacht Race kicked off earlier this week. For 78 years, the renowned race has piqued the interest of dedicated sailors from all over. The 2024 turnout was no different, although the race tragically took the lives of two skilled men when they were killed by a sail boom,