A pod of orcas created a terrifying night for sailors on a yacht off the coast of Spain when they punctured the hull, causing water to flood into the vessel.
The confrontation between the British yacht and the pod of orcas.
British sailor April Boyes shared a video showing a pod of orcas swimming close and violently ramming into the yacht, prompting another crew member to scream in horror. They surrounded the yacht off Gibraltar on May 26 before repeatedly ramming it. Each impact caused increasing damage to the boat, damaging the rudder and puncturing the hull. The attack from the orcas caused water to flood into the engine compartment, forcing the crew to call for help, according to Yahoo.
Eventually, four crew members were relieved when a rescue boat and a Spanish helicopter arrived to assist them in the middle of the night. They were rescued by the coast guard, and the 20-meter yacht was towed to Barbate port in Cadiz province for repairs.
“The unique confrontation ended with the orcas destroying the yacht’s rudder, then biting into several areas of the boat for about an hour. The large hole in the hull caused water to flood into other parts of the yacht and the engine compartment. It was a terrifying experience. We are all safe. I am very grateful to the coast guard,” Boyes shared.
Orcas swimming close and violently ramming into the yacht to attack.
This incident follows an attack by at least 20 orcas on a smaller boat in the Strait of Gibraltar earlier this month. Researchers speculate that a female orca named White Gladis, who had been injured from a collision with a vessel, may be teaching others to attack boats around Gibraltar. They believe White Gladis is seeking revenge by directing her pod to sink two yachts. Pain from the collision or entanglement in fishing nets may have made her hostile towards boats.
The attack on Boyes’ yacht demonstrates that the pod of orcas will continue to target small vessels. On May 2, about six orcas rammed the hull of a Bavaria 46 yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar. The ambush lasted an hour, leaving two passengers from Cambridge shocked and bewildered, causing thousands of dollars in damages.
