Sydney to Hobart review to look at helmets, weather, downwind sailing after deaths, man overboard

Helmets, booms brakes, crew experience and weather will all go under the microscope in a review into the death of two sailors and a man overboard in the 2024 Sydney to Hobart. Full details.

Sailors from Bowline and Flying Fish Arctos after wreaths were laid in tribute at Constitution Dock Hobart following the loss of Nick Smith and Roy Quaden. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Helmets, crew experience and weather will all go under the microscope in a comprehensive review into the death of two sailors and a man overboard in the 2024 Sydney to Hobart to be delivered in May.

The conducting club of the famous annual race, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, said the purpose of the review is to establish the facts and make any appropriate recommendations of practical ways to improve safety in offshore sailing.

All Sydney to Hobart competitors will be encouraged to provide written submissions to the committee or participate in an interview.

“The review is not to apportion any blame nor is the review to consider issues relating to responsibilities to employees,” the CYCA said in a statement.

Former round the world sailor, Sydney to Hobart veteran and maritime lawyer Adrienne Cahalan will be part of the review committee investigating the circumstances surrounding three incidents – the deaths of Roy Quaden and Nick Smith on different yachts and the successful rescue of Luke Watkins after a man overboard the first night and morning of the 2024 race.

Sailor Luke Watkins as thrown overboard from yacht Porco Rosso during the 2024 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The committee will identify possible contributing factors, including weather, equipment, crew preparedness and race management protocols and consider whether any changes are necessary to equipment, training, experience levels, regulations or race documentation to mitigate future risks and enhance race operations.

Cahalan has competed in more than 30 Sydney to Hobart races, won both the line honours and overall trophies as a navigator and was aboard the yacht Alive in 2024 which was the first retirement of the 2004 race off the NSW south coast prior to the opening night drama.

This start of the race on December 26. Picture: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

The CYCA said the Committee will consider such things as helmets and boom brakes/preventers, the relevance of current crew qualifications and experience for Category 1 races and the risks of downwind sailing in strong conditions.

In the wake of the tragedy there were numerous conversations around the docks on safety rules and checks that could be tightened or reintroduced to make the race safer.

Some suggestions discussed informally include looking into compulsory man overboard training prior to racing for every sailor, making sure even the least experience crew has done a major qualifier of 200nm or more for the Sydney Hobart, restricting the number of sailors with limited experience on boats and setting up buddy systems.

Sailors from Bowline and Flying Fish Arctos after wreaths were laid in tribute at Constitution Dock Hobart following the loss of Nick Smith and Roy Quaden. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Others believe the Safety at Sea course should be mandatory for all sailors, not just the 50 per cent required on each yacht.

Rear Admiral Chris Oxenbould AO RAN (Rtd) will chair with CYCA vice commodore David Jordan also involved.

Quaden on Flying Fish Arctos and Smith on Bowline died in separate accidents involving a boom and mainsheet incident.

Porco Rosso sailor Luke Watkins was successfully recovered after going overboard during testing conditions off the far NSW coast.

A raft of safety rules and regulations were introduced in the wake of the deadly 1998 race where six loves were lost at sea in heinous conditions.

Friends of two sailors killed

These included sailors under 18 being banned and additional safety equipment being carried,

The scope of work for the Review Committee will be to;

#Collect and analyse all relevant data, including interviews with skippers, crews, and race management.

#Consideration of received submissions.

#Weather reports and forecasts during the race.

#Vessel tracking and performance data.

#Available reports of the deaths of Roy Quaden and Nick Smith.

#An examination of the man overboard incident involving Luke Watkins.

#Examine the role of equipment failures, if any, in the incidents.

#Provide a report to the CYCA Board.

The Review Committee will produce a report that includes a detailed account of the three incidents, an analysis of the causes and contributing factors, findings on the adequacy of existing safety measures and protocols and recommendations for enhancing safety standards and updating equipment and training requirements.

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