'Sombre' LawConnect claims line honours in 2024 Sydney to Hobart race marred by two deaths
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A 'sombre' LawConnect delayed celebrations after claiming back-to-back line honour wins in a Sydney to Hobart race marred by the death of two sailors. The Christian Beck-skippered supermaxi was first across the River Derwent finish line at 2.35am on Saturday in a time of one day, 13 hours, 35 minutes and 13 seconds.
![[The Christian Beck-skippered supermaxi was first across the River Derwent finish line at 2.35am on Saturday in a time of one day, 13 hours, 35 minutes and 13 seconds]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/21/93529611-14230969-image-a-16_1735335572098.jpg)
The usual champagne and boisterous cheers were absent, in respect to two men who died at sea during rough weather on Thursday's first night of sailing. South Australian Nick Smith, 65, was aboard Bowline when he was thrown across the yacht and hit his head on a winch.
![[Tony Mutter said the conditions were the worst of his 11 career Sydney to Hobart races (pictured)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/21/93529599-14230969-image-a-17_1735335654564.jpg)
In a separate incident, Roy Quaden, 55, from Western Australia was struck by the sailing boom while on Flying Fish Arctos. 'We're not doing any celebrations on the boat. We'll be doing that quietly later on,' LawConnect crew member Tony Mutter said. A 'sombre' LawConnect will delay celebrations after claiming back-to-back line honour wins in a Sydney to Hobart race marred by the death of two sailors (pictured, LawConnect crew member Tony Mutter).
The Christian Beck-skippered supermaxi was first across the River Derwent finish line at 2.35am on Saturday in a time of one day, 13 hours, 35 minutes and 13 seconds. Mutter spoke to the media instead of Beck, who got knocked about with food poisoning in the final few hours of the race.
