A yacht carrying adventurers was attacked by a pod of Iberian orcas off the coast of Gibraltar, resulting in the destruction of its rudder and loss of steering. The incident, which lasted approximately three hours, occurred after the vessel had sailed for four weeks from the Bahamas to Spain.
Underwater footage captured by French filmmaker Alex Aimard shows the whales circling the yacht and damaging its rudder, rendering the boat uncontrollable. Videos filmed from the deck depict the orcas chasing the vessel and leaping from the water at high speed. The ship's wheel was seen spinning erratically as the whales attacked the rudder, with pieces of the blade observed floating on the surface.
One of the passengers, Norwegian skydiver Jokke Sommer, described the encounter on Instagram, noting that the Iberian orcas are known for their interactions with yachts in the region. He stated that the whales were initially playful and curious, with some interacting with the rudder and causing the boat to spin, while others engaged with floating debris.
Sommer emphasized that the crew did not resort to aggressive measures to deter the orcas. He mentioned that the encounter included initial impacts that broke the rudder, mayday calls, preparations for potential evacuation due to water ingress, and an attempt to use the engine, which he believes provoked a stronger reaction from one of the larger orcas. He described the interaction as a "unique experience" and highlighted the intelligence and coordinated hunting tactics for which orcas are known.
Orcas, the largest members of the oceanic dolphin family, can reach lengths of nearly ten meters and weigh around 10,000 kilograms. They are recognized for their speed, with recorded speeds up to 34 miles per hour. Ancient mariners originally named them 'killer whales' after observing their predatory behavior towards larger whales. Orcas are still hunted in some countries, including Greenland.