Sailors Rescued After Sperm Whale Destroys Yacht Off New Zealand
Couple recounts near-disaster at sea, finding safety on a life raft before rescue.
A couple, Jeremy and Gemma Cooper, have described their relief at being rescued after their yacht was destroyed by a sperm whale approximately 500 nautical miles off the coast of New Zealand. The incident occurred while the couple and two other sailors were aboard their vessel, the Tai Tam.
According to the Coopers, the yacht lurched suddenly to port side, and they immediately realized they had been struck by something. Upon investigation, they observed a pod of six sperm whales swimming behind their boat.
As the Tai Tam began taking on water and eventually sank, the four individuals evacuated to a life raft. After 17 hours adrift, they were rescued by a passing container ship. Despite the harrowing experience, the Coopers expressed their intention to return to sailing soon.