Organizers said Friday that two Sydney to Hobart sailors have died at sea amid wild weather conditions that forced line honors favorite Master Lock Comanche to withdraw among mass retirements.

Two experienced sailors have lost their lives, another was swept into the sea and lucky to survive, on a black night for the Sydney to Hobart.

The men were hit in the head by booms on their yachts in separate episodes, as participants faced challenging weather conditions, the police said.