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.

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

One of the two men who died during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race overnight has been identified as an experienced sailor. South Australian man Nick Smith, 65, has been identified as one of the sailors killed in the race.