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Disaster race organisers condemned

"I find that the race management team had no emergency or crisis plan from which guidance could have been obtained," he said in a 340-page report released in Sydney on Tuesday.

He also said he could not understand why Australia's Bureau of Meteorology had failed to alert the organisers about the impending storms that forced two-thirds of the 115 boats to abandon the race.

Individual beacons

The forecasters knew about the low pressure system that was about to hit the race, but had not persevered with efforts to warn the organisers from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), or the race crews themselves.

Fifty-five competitors had to be rescued from waves up to 20m (65 feet) high, in winds of 100 knots, off the coast of New South Wales.

Mr Abernethy made 15 recommendations to help avoid a future tragedy. One is that future competitors should wear individual electronic beacons to help rescuers find them.

Causes of death

Five of the dead men were Australian, the other was the British Olympic champion, Glyn Charles.

• The coroner found that Charles was swept overboard after stitching on a lanyard (rope) connected to his safety harness split. He recommended that this brand of lanyard and harness should be withdrawn from sale

• Phillip Skeggs drowned when he became entangled in equipment after the yacht Business Post Naiad was knocked over

• Bruce Guy, skipper of the same yacht, died of a heart attack

• John Dean, James Lawler and Michael Bannister, who abandoned the yacht Winston Churchill, all drowned after being washed from their liferaft

Mr Abernethy recommended that sailors should carry clothing to protect them from hypothermia in rough weather.

'Balanced' analysis

The CYCA said it would study the coroner's report, which it believed was balanced and well-reasoned.

"We believe the coroner's analysis of the tragedies involved in the 1998 Sydney-Hobart yacht race will be of assistance and guidance to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and the yachting community worldwide," it said in a statement.

The club has already adopted a number of new safety measures, including compulsory installation of satellite units and radio beacons which help track yachts through the race.

All yachts must also carry waterproof hand-held VHF radios.

In his opening remarks, Mr Abernethy said: "To the families of the deceased, I do hope that the passing of this inquest will further assist you to come to terms with your grief."