Sydney to Hobart race to feature tribute to victims of Bondi terror attack

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race will include a tribute to the victims and survivors of the Bondi terror attack as the fleet passes the coast on Boxing Day.

In memory of the 15 people who lost their lives on December 14, 15 boats will drop flower petals into the Pacific Ocean as they pass the attack area. Boats will include race favorite Master Lock Comanche and eventual overall winner Celestial V70.

Sam Haynes, commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and skipper of the Celestial, announced the memorial at Wednesday’s weather briefing and invited other captains to join the 15 boats. Haynes said the memorial service was for “members of the Jewish community and our community who were unfortunately killed in the terrorist attack that day. So as we pass Bondi, 15 boats will be scattering some petals into the ocean at that point.”

Master Lock Comanche skipper Matt Allen said his boat would be part of the commemoration after visiting the site as vice-president of the Australian Olympic Committee.

“Last Friday we went to Bondi with a large group of Jewish and non-Jewish Olympic athletes and held a service there, followed by a brunch to show our support for the victims and the whole community,” he said. “We know that sport can bring society together both here in Australia and the Olympic movement around the world… It was such an intimate event.

“The first thought was: ‘Do we have any family, staff and Olympic community involved in this?’ And I’m trying to make sure everyone is safe. This is a very difficult work because it is such a large community. We realized pretty quickly that everyone was safe. Then I really wanted to talk about what we’re going to do to provide as much support as possible to the entire community.

A yacht club spokesman said race safety was being reconsidered following the tragedy.

“We will continue to work with the relevant authorities as we prepare for the race after Christmas,” the statement said.

The mandatory weather briefing began early on Wednesday with a minute’s silence for Roy Quaden and Nick Smith, two sailors who died in the Sydney-Hobart race last year. Describing the deaths as tragic, Haynes said, “This will be something that will preoccupy us and the families of these two sailors.”