Two sailors have been killed during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race amid a night of tough weather conditions that hit the fleet.

The annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which starts on Thursday, takes sailors on a 628-nautical mile race that exits Sydney Harbor and plunges south along the New South Wales coastline before crossing Bass Strait, rounding Tasman Island, crossing Tasmania’s Storm Bay and pushing up the River Derwent to Hobart.

The incident aboard Flying Fish Arctos occurred around 30nm east-south esat of Ulladulla on the NSW south coast.

Two people have tragically died in separate incidents during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race overnight.

The 79th Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht race will see 104 yachts make the 628 nautical mile journey south, as they contend for Australian sailing’s highest honour.