Two people competing in Australia’s annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race have died in separate incidents, according to police.

Two crew members died in separate incidents after being hit by a boom (a large pole attached horizontally to the base of a sail).

Organizers of the event said the incident occurred on board the Exocet Aktos and Pauling.

The first ships are expected to arrive in Hobart, Tasmania, late Friday or early Saturday. Some have retired due to the bad weather.

New South Wales police said the first incident was reported to police by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in the country’s capital Canberra just before midnight local time (12:50 GMT) on Thursday.

More than two hours later, at 02:15am on Friday, New South Wales Police were informed that crew members on the second boat were performing CPR on the second person, but again to no avail.

Organizers said the Flying Fish Aktos had been sailing about 30 nautical miles east/southeast of the town of Ulladulla, New South Wales.

Meanwhile, Bowlaine is located approximately 30 nautical miles east/northeast of the town of Batemans Bay, New South Wales.

“Our thoughts are with the deceased’s staff, family and friends,” organizers said in a statement.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “Flying from Sydney to Hobart is an Australian tradition and it is heartbreaking that two lives were lost at what should be a joyous moment.”

The competition, which started on Thursday, continues.

This is not the first time a death has occurred at the race, which was first held in 1945.

In 1998, a violent storm struck the competitors, killing six people, including British Olympic sailor Glyn Charles.