Revealed: How a THIRD Sydney to Hobart sailor almost died in 3am horror: 'It's one of the most terrifying experiences you can have'
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Details have emerged of a 'terrifying' incident off Sydney to Hobart yacht Porco Rosso, which had to recover a crew member swept more than one kilometre overboard on a deadly night of racing. Two sailors were fatally struck by booms on their respective boats overnight, as the race's death toll threatened to rise to three when an as-yet-unidentified crew member fell off Porco Rosso around 3.15am.
![[The sailor was found thanks to an emergency beacon that helped track them down (pictured, the Porco Rosso sailing out of Sydney on Boxing Day)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/23/93506507-14228603-image-a-30_1735255781914.jpg)
The sailor was blown overboard as the 2013 handicap winner, formerly known as Victoire, made her way past Green Cape on the NSW Coast in the strong winds that had been forecast. 'That is one of the most terrifying experiences that you can have,' said David Jacobs, vice-commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which administers the race.
![[A sailor aboard the Bowline (pictured) was one of two crew members to be killed by a booms within the first 24 hours of the famous race]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/23/93506725-14228603-image-a-31_1735255945160.jpg)
'(And) it was at night, which makes it tenfold more scary. 'Fortunately there are developed systems and procedures to cater for that situation to retrieve the person.'. A crew member from the Porco Rosso yacht (pictured) was blown overboard at 3.15am on Friday and was left more than a kilometre from the vessel before being rescued.
The sailor was found thanks to an emergency beacon that helped track them down (pictured, the Porco Rosso sailing out of Sydney on Boxing Day). The incident triggered the crew member's emergency position-indicating radio beacon, a safety device that must be worn by all sailors in the race.
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