SYDNEY, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Two sailors participating in an annual yacht race between Sydney and Hobart have died in separate incidents, police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) said in a statement on Friday.

Officers from the Marine Area Command were notified at 11:50 p.m. Thursday local time that a crew member of one race entrant had been struck by a boom, a large horizontal pole at the bottom of a sail, according to the statement.

Fellow crew members performed CPR, but they could not revive their fellow crew.

About two hours later, at 2:15 a.m. Friday, officers were advised that crew members from a second yacht were administering CPR to a sailor who had also been struck by a boom. CPR was unsuccessful and the sailor died.

Both yachts, the Flying Fish Arctos and the Bowline, altered course back to shore.

It marked the first deaths in the race since 1998 when six sailors died, prompting a coronial inquest and major safety reforms.

Race organizers said in a statement that both vessels were approximately 30 nautical miles (55 kilometers) off the coast of NSW when the incidents occurred.

"Our thoughts are with the crews, family and friends of the deceased," it said.

Over 100 race entrants departed Sydney on Thursday.

Strong winds caused 14 other yachts to retire from the prestigious race on Thursday night, including race record holder and four-time line honors winner Master Lock Comanche.

The race is continuing despite the deaths, with the leaders expected to arrive in Hobart, capital city of the Australian state of Tasmania, on Friday or early Saturday. Enditem

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