One person has died and another is missing after a yacht overturned during the Bunbury and Return Ocean Race overnight.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) detected a distress beacon around 2.45am AEDT following the capsize of the 15 metre Finisher well of the coast of Mandurah just before midnight.
The yachts tracker failed around 3am and the helicopter was sent to locate the vessel.
Two other yachts from the race stopped to help along with a third yacht, they managed to pull five of the six crew members from the water, sadly one person was already deceased.
A massive search operation is still underway for the sixth crew member despite rough conditions.
Two helicopters and the AMSA's jet are searching from the air while water police and Mandurah volunteer sea rescue assist.
Fremantle Water Police, the Mandurah and Rockingham Volunteer Marine Rescue and two yachts from the race, Fourth Dimension and Circa, are assisting with the search as well.
Weather conditions in the area are described as south easterly winds 15-20kts, with 1-2 metre seas.
One of the yachts from the race has transferred the surviving crew members to shore for medical treatment.
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