‘Sombre’ LawConnect wins line honours in tragic Sydney to Hobart race

“We were pretty busy. We were 100 per cent focused on the race,” he said. “Our navigator knew and he had to just pick the right moment to let us know.

“(The mood onboard) absolutely became more sombre. We were absolutely surprised and just felt for the other competitors.”

An investigation will be held into the fatalities – the first deaths in the event since 1998 when six sailors perished in wild storms.

Mutter said the conditions were the worst of his 11 Sydney to Hobart races.

“I know my wife appreciated my texts from the boat, as did my adult kids,” he said. “They were very grateful to hear that we were okay.”

LawConnect’s hopes received a boost when rival and fellow supermaxi Master Lock Comanche retired with mainsail damage early on Friday morning when leading the fleet.

Strong winds forecast pre-race prompted some to predict the record time of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds would fall, while Beck tipped yachts would be damaged.

At 2am on Saturday, 27 of the 104-strong starting fleet had retired citing problems including electrical issues and crew injuries.

Mutter said LawConnect escaped sail damage, with his crewmates only picking up “bumps and bruises”.

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NSW 70ft Celestial V70 was on track for a second place finish in the 79th edition of the 628 nautical mile event, with supermaxi Wild Thing 100 in third.

It could take days for the overall handicap winner to be decided.

LawConnect was the first yacht out of Sydney Heads on Boxing Day, but Comanche powered ahead down the NSW coast in a blustery north-easterly.

After finishing second in three consecutive races, LawConnect pipped Comanche by just 51 seconds in 2023 in a battle up the River Derwent.

It is the third time LawConnect has claimed line honours, after initial success in 2016 as Perpetual Loyal.

AAP

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