Hey there, sailors and adventure lovers! Have you heard about the big yacht race in Australia called the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race? It’s a super famous event where brave sailors race huge boats across the ocean!
Recently, something very sad happened during the race. Two sailors lost their lives, and everyone was trying to understand what went wrong. One of them was Nick Smith from Australia.
At first, people thought Nick was hit by something called the sail boom. That’s the big pole that holds the bottom of the sail. But now, the race organizers have found out something different.
They said Nick was actually hit by the mainsheet. That’s a thick rope that controls the sail. When a big wave or strong wind comes, the mainsheet can move suddenly. It hit Nick and threw him across the boat. He hit his head on a winch (that’s a machine used to pull ropes), which caused the accident.
David Jacobs, who helps run the yacht club, said, “Nick was a very experienced sailor. We thought he was hit by the boom, like the other sailor, Roy. But now we’ve learned it was the mainsheet that hit him.”
It’s a reminder that sailing can be exciting but also dangerous. Safety is super important when you’re out on the water.
Our thoughts are with Nick’s family and friends. 💙
Reference(s):
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race organizers say Smith was hit by mainsheet
cgtn.com
