Overview

• Celestial V70, skippered by Sam Haynes, has been named the provisional overall winner of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, marking Haynes' second victory after a 2022 win.
• The race was marred by the deaths of two sailors, Roy Quaden and Nick Smith, in separate incidents during rough weather on the first night of competition.
• The 628-nautical-mile race featured high seas and gale-force winds, leading to 30 yachts withdrawing from the 104-strong fleet that began on Boxing Day.
• LawConnect, a 100-foot supermaxi skippered by Christian Beck, claimed line honours for the second consecutive year with a time of 1 day, 13 hours, 35 minutes, and 13 seconds.
• Race organisers have pledged to investigate the fatalities, the first since 1998, when six sailors lost their lives, prompting significant safety reforms.