Two sailors died after being struck by sail booms in separate incidents during the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race as crews grappled with treacherous conditions across the notorious Bass Strait.

Two sailors have been killed in separate incidents in the treacherous Sydney to Hobart bluewater classic, organisers said Friday, as a string of yachts limped out of a race fleet battered by powerful winds.

Two sailors on separate boats have been killed in boom accidents two hours apart on a storm-ravaged first night of the annual Sydney to Hobart race, adding to the event’s long history of deaths at sea.

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.

Two sailors were tragically killed during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, the first fatalities since 1998. Both deaths occurred after crew members were struck by sail booms. Organizers expressed their commitment to safety improvements and investigations are underway.

Two sailors on separate yachts participating in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race have died after they were each struck by sail booms on the NSW coast overnight.In two incidents just hours apart, crew members onboard the Flying Fish Arctos,

The bodies of two sailors killed in the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race have been returned to shore as the race continues in wild conditions.

Organizers said that two Sydney to Hobart sailors have died at sea amid wild weather conditions that forced line honors favorite Master Lock Comanche to withdraw among mass retirements