Tragedy has hit the Sydney-Hobart yacht race with two sailors dying in separate incidents over the past 24 hours.
A statement was released by race organisers at 5:35am Friday morning revealing the tragic events.
The race will continue despite the tragedies and challenging weather conditions ahead.
It's the first deaths in the Sydney-Hobart yacht race since six people died in 1998.
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Two people die in the Sydney-Hobart yacht race
Water police are investigating the two incidents involving vessels Flying Fish Arctos (NSW) and Bowline (SA).
The names of the deceased have not been released as of yet but in a tragic twist, both were hit by their boat's boom during the separate incidents.
Despite the deaths, the race will still continue with difficult but not extreme weather conditions predicted for the rest of the event.
Previous deaths in Sydney-Hobart yacht race
In 1998, six sailors died as severe weather conditions struck the race off the coast of south-eastern Australia.
The six sailors who died were: Phillip Charles Skeggs (Business Post Naiad, drowned, 27 December 1998); Bruce Raymond Guy (Business Post Naiad, heart attack, 27 December 1998); John Dean, James Lawler and Michael Bannister (Winston Churchill, all drowned, 28 December 1998); and Glyn Charles (Sword of Orion, drowned, 27 December 1998).
Five boats were sunk during the race, seven were abandoned and 55 sailors had to be rescued from their yachts by helicopters and ships.
The tragedies saw mass reform apply to safety protocols surrounding sailing races worldwide.
