Five twenty-year-old sailors from Norway described to reporters how panic rose when a pod of killer whales attacked their sailboat, Nova Vida, off the coast of Portugal near Lisbon on September 13. Elise Wurschmidt and her four friends—Thelma Hvidsten Hem, Eva Hole Rødland, Amalie Sundnes Harjo and Lisa Strand Festervoll—were aboard the Nova Vida as part of a Nordic group traveling toward the fishing town of Sines. The attack came as a surprise while the boat was moving along the coast, and the crew soon found themselves grappling with a damaged rudder and a steering system that would not respond.
Video from the cockpit captured the moment the vessel bucked as a pod of six-metre orcas slammed into the hull. The force of the strikes sent the wheel spinning uncontrollably, and the rudder became stuck after a whale struck it from below. “We turned on the engine and some minutes later, the wheel just starts to spin uncontrolled,” Elise said, describing the moment when the crew realized something was seriously wrong. “When that broke, the rudder was completely stuck. We couldn't use the emergency rudder and we couldn't use the steering wheel at all.” With the steering locked and the boat circling, the orcas continued to crash against the hull, forcing the crew to improvise.
The crew on Nova Vida, though, remained remarkably calm and focused on finding a solution. They concluded that while the emergency rudder might help, alternative measures could improve their chances of escape. In the moment, their plan centered on keeping the engine running and trying to disrupt the orcas’ approach by banging on the rudder and using the rudder’s mechanics to alter the boat’s motion. The group has said they also drew on old sailors’ lore about fending off large predators, even if the science behind such methods is uncertain. The crew continued to monitor the attackers and hoped for a break in the danger.
In addition to the engine, they attempted a low-cost, improvised defense: pouring vinegar into the sea in hopes that a chemical deterrent would drive the orcas away. The team later stressed that they did not believe the vinegar alone did much to deter the animals, but they felt it was better than doing nothing. “We really don’t think that the vinegar did anything,” Elise said, “but we poured because it’s better than feeling helpless in the situation.” They also suggested that reversing the engine and backing the rudder might have a physical effect, by creating a different pull on the vessel’s stern that could influence the orcas’ approach.
The confrontation happened as another nearby vessel, the Oceanview, sustained a much more severe encounter. Witnesses said a larger number of orcas—five or six—swarmed the other boat, which eventually sank after taking on water and sustaining multiple hits. The Nova Vida crew watched from a safe distance as rescuers attempted to stabilize the sinking vessel and coordinate a response. Elise said the Oceanview’s five-member crew was rescued, and that the other boat’s captain appeared calm, focusing on the situation rather than on emotional distress.
A coast guard RIB (rigid-hull inflatable) followed the Nova Vida for support as the situation unfolded. The Nova Vida crew remained in contact with maritime authorities as they navigated their own emergency until they could regain control of their vessel. In the end, the Nova Vida managed to install a functioning emergency rudder and proceeded under power to Cascais, about 10 nautical miles to the north. After several hours of work and maneuvering, they were able to resume more normal steering capability.
The group, which set out from Norway in August and initially faced a sand-dune mishap near Kiel, Germany, has continued documenting their journey on Instagram as they anticipate further voyaging. The Fatuhiva, their lead vessel, was undergoing repairs in Germany when the Nova Vida, temporarily paired with their sailing partners, offered assistance to help them reach the next leg of their world voyage. The Oceanview’s sinking prompted a reminder of the fragility of tourist and adventure boating along the Atlantic fringe, even as curiosity about ocean life remains high among young sailors.
Contingencies and repairs followed the incident. The Nova Vida will need a few weeks of repairs before it can resume sailing, a setback for a crew that hopes to circumnavigate the globe together. The group’s travel plans include crossing the Atlantic in the near future, a dream that remains intact despite the scare. They maintain that this incident will not deter their ambitions; instead, it has reinforced the importance of preparation, teamwork, and respect for the power of the sea.
Throughout, the crew has emphasized that their priority was safety and the welfare of the animals involved. They noted that orcas are powerful, wild animals, and that any attempt to harm them could have intensified the danger for both the crew and the whales. Their caution reflects a broader maritime ethos that emphasizes caution and mutual respect in encounters with wildlife. As they prepare for the next leg of their journey, they continue to share updates from their Instagram feed, offering followers a window into a voyage defined as much by perseverance as by youth and adventure.
The broader cultural context of the episode has included renewed public interest in orcas and other large marine mammals, as well as ongoing discussions about the risks associated with small craft and wildlife during open-water passages. Experts have reiterated that while stories of improvised survival tactics captivate the imagination, the best approach remains prudent planning, robust safety gear, and timely communication with coast guards and harbor authorities. For the Nova Vida crew, the incident remains a powerful reminder of how quickly a routine voyage can become a crisis, and of how small acts of ingenuity—and a willingness to adapt on the fly—can help a crew endure the worst moments at sea.