by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
I was young, still racing prams, when an offshore race near my harbor incurred an accident. This was the 1970s when a 41-footer accidentally gybed, with the boom killing a crewman. As I think back, it never deterred me from sailing, though my head has felt a blow or two from much smaller booms.

Today’s parents question the safety of youth football due to head injury, but sailing continues on. We do see more helmets now on the water, and offshore boats are more controllable than the older IOR designs, but our playing surface remains a challenging variable.

Following two deaths and a successful MOB recovery in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, host Cruising Yacht Club of Australia has announced (click here) that it is “conducting a review of these three incidents to determine if there are any practical ways to improve safety in offshore sailing.”

The past half century has seen significant improvement in education and gear, yet accidents still happen. Are there more “practical ways to improve safety” without setting a standard that deters participation? The Review Committee can be emailed at 2024RSYHRreview@CYCA.com.au.

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The 2024 Sydney Hobart Race extends 628-nautical miles from Sydney Harbour to Hobart, the state capital of Tasmania. The start on December 26 takes place in the heart of the Australian summer, with 105 yachts set to take on the 79th edition.