Deadly storm strikes Sydney-Hobart race

Six sailors were killed and six yachts abandoned or sunk offAustralia in the December 26 race from Sydney, New South Wales, to Hobart, Tasmania. Of the 115 yachts entered in the 725-mile race, 59 were forced to drop out and seek refuge. Fifty-four people were airlifted from their vessels by Australian Maritime Safety Authority helicopter crews. The complete story, which describes how the fleet, one day after the start in Sydney was seemingly caught by surprise despite advance warning of the storm, appears in the Ocean Racing section.