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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.

Supermaxi LawConnect has claimed back-to-back line honours in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race in an event marred by the death of two sailors.

Christian Beck, who also skippered the 100ft vessel in 2023, was at the helm as it crossed the River Derwent finish line in Hobart at 2.35am on Saturday.

LawConnect's time was one day, 13 hours, 35 minutes and 13 seconds, short of the race record of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds.

Two competitors were killed during rough weather on Thursday's first night of sailing in the 79th edition of the 628 nautical mile event. 

South Australian Nick Smith, 65, was aboard Bowline when he was thrown across the yacht and hit his head on a winch.

In a separate incident, Roy Quaden, 55, was struck by the sailing boom while on Flying Fish Arctos. 

The pair were the first fatalities since the 1998 race in which six sailors died in wild storms. 

LawConnect's hopes received a boost when main rival Master Lock Comanche retired with mainsail damage early on Friday morning when leading the fleet. 

Strong winds forecast pre-race prompted some to predict the race record would fall, while Beck tipped yachts would be damaged. 

At 2am on Saturday, 27 of the 104-strong starting fleet had retired citing problems including electrical issues and crew injuries.

NSW 70ft Celestial V70 is on track for a second place finish about 20 nautical miles behind LawConnect, with supermaxi Wild Thing 100 in third. 

LawConnect was the first yacht out of Sydney Heads on Boxing Day, but Comanche powered ahead down the NSW coast in a blustery north-easterly.

After finishing second in three consecutive races, LawConnect pipped Comanche by just 51 seconds in 2023 in a battle up the River Derwent.

It is the third time LawConnect has claimed line honours, after success in 2016 as Perpetual Loyal under Anthony Bell.