Editorial: Sydney to Hobart deaths a tragic way to end the year

It should have been a great adventure — taking part in one of Australia’s most beloved sporting traditions, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

But for West Australian Roy Quaden and South Australian Nick Smith it all went terribly wrong.

Separate incidents just hours apart claimed the pair’s lives. Mr Quaden, the navigator aboard the Flying Fish Arctos was killed when he was struck in the back of the head by a swinging boom just before midnight on Boxing Day.

Not long after, Mr Smith died on board the Bowline when he was hit by a main sheet, throwing him against a winch.

Despite the efforts of their teammates, the men could not be saved.

Both were experienced sailors. It was Mr Smith’s fifth time participating in the race.

The deaths, which the first in the Sydney-Hobart since six sailors died competing in the 1998 event, have shocked Australians and the sailing community.

The death toll was very nearly even higher — a third sailor fell overboard from the Porco Rosso, who was eventually rescued by his crew having drifted more than a kilometre from the yacht in terrifying conditions.

As of late Friday, 22 vessels — one fifth of the initial fleet — had retired.

Dual winner Wild Oats was among them, having sustained damage to its rigging.

The race’s organisers have defended their decision to go ahead with the race despite a difficult weather conditions forecast.

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Vice Commodore David Jacobs said it was a “fundamental principle” of the sport that skippers were best placed to evaluate whether conditions were safe.

It’s now up to the police and coroner to determine who, if anyone, bears any responsibility for the deaths of Mr Quaden and Mr Smith, or if they were simply freak accidents. Any recommendations to avoid future tragedies must be taken seriously.

No one should lose their life in what should have been an enjoyable summer activity.