Defending champion LawConnect takes out back-to-back line honours victories in a tragedy-stricken Sydney to Hobart yacht race in which two competitors died.

LawConnect has claimed back-to-back line honours in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, which has been marred by the death of two competitors.

There was no trophy, no champagne, no skipper and no cheering for the winner of this year’s Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race after LawConnect claimed its second line honours title in a row.

Champagne corks often pop and loud, boisterous cheers are usually heard around Constitution Dock when the Sydney to Hobart line honors winner finishes in the Tasmanian state capital. There were no such celebrations this year when defending champion LawConnect won the race in the early hours of Saturday morning,

Two sailors on separate boats have been killed in boom accidents two hours apart on a storm-ravaged first night of the annual Sydney to Hobart race, adding to the event’s long history of deaths at sea