Well-known skipper among two dead in yacht race tragedy

Two sailors who died when their yacht capsized during a race off WA's coast have been named, with one a well-known veteran of the sport.

Skipper Robert Ralph Thomas, 70, and Paul Charles Owen, 60, were taking part in the 70th Bunbury and Return Ocean Race aboard the Finistere on Friday night.

The yacht was about 11 nautical miles south-west of Mandurah when it got into difficulty shortly before midnight with six people on board.

Two other yachts reached the overturned vessel and their crews pulled five sailors from the water, including Mr Owens, who had not survived.

Mr Thomas was missing for hours until a helicopter spotted his body and it was recovered by police yesterday.

Mr Thomas was a former Sydney to Hobart sailor and the vice-commodore of the Fremantle Sailing Club.

The Bunbury and Return Ocean Race is organised by the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club.

Commodore Dean McAullay said it was too early to speculate about the incident and authorities would investigate.

Support would be offered to family of the men, and counselling would be available to crew and competitors, he said.

"Understandably, we've all taken it fairly hard," Mr McAullay told reporters.

The race began at 5.30pm on Friday local time and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority received a distress call just before midnight after a crew member on board activated a personal locator beacon.

It is not yet known what caused the Finistere to overturn but the Department of Transport are investigating the incident and a report will be prepared for the coroner, a police spokesperson said.