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More than 60 yachts still at sea in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race are experiencing calmer conditions after windy weather during a fatal opening night.

NSW yacht Celestial V70 is poised to claim overall honours in the Sydney to Hobart race, as the majority of the fleet track down Tasmania's east coast in "champagne" conditions.

The 79th edition of the 628 nautical mile event was hit by tragedy on the first night of sailing when two competitors died at sea in rough weather. 

Supermaxi LawConnect was first to arrive in Hobart in darkness on Saturday morning, taking out back-to-back line honours victories.

Celestial V70, skippered by Sam Haynes, was second past the post and is currently in top spot on the overall standings, decided on handicap. 

Haynes, who is also the commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia which organises the race, said it was "nuclear" when he crossed Bass Strait. 

"It was so rough, the sea state, so windy," he said after arriving.

"We were just limiting the number of people on deck so we could just keep the boat lit up and give people some time downstairs." 

Veterinarian Haynes chartered the Volvo 70 with a view to reclaiming the Tattersall Cup after winning the race on handicap in a smaller boat named Celestial two years ago.

Nine yachts of the 104-strong starting fleet had finished the race at 10am on Sunday, with 65 still at sea.

The majority were off Tasmania's east coast with the tail-end yachts about to cross Bass Strait. 

There have been 30 retirements in weather that hit 40 knots, including line honours contender Master Lock Comanche and 2023 overall winner Tasmanian yacht Alive. 

Roy Quaden, 55, and 65-year-old Nick Smith died off the NSW south coast after being hit by on-board equipment on yachts Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline respectively.

Race organisers have pledged an investigation into the deaths - the first since 1998 when six sailors were killed, prompting mass safety reforms. 

LawConnect tempered celebrations in respect to Quaden and Smith after crossing the finish line.

Experienced skipper of MWF Kayle, John Whitfield, said winds were 10-15 knots, making for "champagne" conditions off Tasmania's coast after taxing racing since the Boxing Day start. 

Whitfield, in his 30th Sydney to Hobart, said his crew had to drain their engine twice after it became flooded.

"We've had plenty of water across the bow and plenty down below. We are thinking about those who lost their lives," he said.

"We're definitely looking forward to reaching Hobart."