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Yachts get ready for
Sydney to Hobart race |
1998: Six die as huge waves smash into
yachts |
England have
Six people are feared dead after raging storms hit competitors in the
Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
British Olympic yachtsman Glyn Charles is missing presumed dead after
his safety harness snapped in winds of up to 90mph (144km/h), with waves
of 40ft (12m) high reported by sailors in the prestigious Australian race.
Sailors from around the world are taking part in the 630 nautical mile
(1167km) race from Sydney Harbour to Hobart on Tasmania.
Mr Charles, from Emsworth, Hampshire, is one of six competitors who are
thought to have drowned as 115 yachts taking part in race were lashed by
storms in the notoriously treacherous stretch of sea, which has often
been called "Hell on High Water" by sailors.
He was swept overboard after his yacht Sword of Orion lost its mast and
capsized, flinging crew members into the sea.
His harness broke
and we lost him. There was nothing we could do. I thought we were all
going to die.
The search for Mr Charles' body was called off as darkness fell 24
hours after he was lost. He had postponed a trip home to see his mother
after being offered a chance to compete in the race.
Four bodies have been recovered and rescuers have now given up hope of
finding the Briton and an Australian yachtsman, who are presumed drowned
in the worst death toll in the 54-year history of the event.
The other missing man was thought to be an Australian, who was a crew
member aboard the Winston Churchill, which had sailed in the inaugural
1944 race. The bodies of two other crew members from the yacht have been
recovered.
A New South Wales government coroner's inquiry has been ordered to
investigate the loss of life, while the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia,
the race organiser, will also investigate the disaster.
A helicopter lifted a crew of 12 from the dismasted VC Offshore Stand
Aside, a 40ft (12m) yacht from Adelaide. One crew member lost several
fingers and another sailor suffered head injuries.
Sixty-seven boats - well over half the starters - have abandoned the
race and are heading for safe harbour, with dozens arriving at the New
South Wales port of Eden. Many of the sailors were in tears as they
stepped ashore. The flags festooning Hobart are at half-mast.
Veterans - including former UK prime minister Sir Edward Heath - who
won in 1969 skippering Morning Cloud, have spoken of enormous waves and
hours spent struggling to cover just a few miles.
Rescuers, including helicopters crews using thermal imaging equipment
and seven Australian Air Force planes, took part in the search.
The deaths have prompted questions about why organisers did not delay
the start of the race following forecasts of bad weather in the Bass
Strait.
The Sayonara was first to finish the race at 0806 local time, coming up
the river Derwent surrounded by probably the smallest spectator fleet for
many years. The yacht was five hours outside the race record, finishing in
a little over two days and 19
hours.