A BRITISH sailor was left "terrified" after a group of orcas attacked his boat for hours as he desperately called the coastguard for help. Footage shows the killer whales, also known as orcas, ramming the boat in what the narrator calls "quite an ordeal.". A group of rogue killer whales has been attacking boats off the coast of Spain and Portugal, and it is getting worse and worse, experts said. Earlier that evening, Nick Giles was motorsailing alone when he heard a horrific bang “like a sledgehammer”, saw his wheel “turning with incredible force”, disabling the steering as his 34ft Moody yacht spun 180 degrees. Pete Green, from U.K.-based yacht delivery company Halcyon Yachts—International Yacht Delivery, said two crew members and the two owners of the 45-foot boat were on board when the attack took place on October 4. A group of killer whales rammed into a 45-foot yacht off the coast of Portugal, while skipper David Smith called the Coast Guard for support. Most of the attacks are believed to have been carried out by three juvenile killer whales, scientists analyzing their behavior have said. Later that day, a Spanish naval yacht, Mirfak, lost part of its rudder after an encounter with orcas under the stern. The pod rammed the boat for more than an hour, during which time the crew were too busy getting the sails in, readying the life raft and radioing a mayday – “Orca attack!” – to feel fear. Alfredo López, a biologist from the Coordinator for the Study of Marine Mammals in Galicia, said orcas made their way up the coast each September from the Gulf of Cadiz to chase tuna into the Bay of Biscay. "I've never heard of this happening along this coast. Halcyon Yachts was taking a 36ft boat to the UK when an orca rammed its stern at least 15 times, according to Pete Green, the company’s managing director. For two hours, six or seven orcas, also known as killer whales, continuously rammed the underside of David Smith's 45ft yacht as he … One video, filmed last week, shows how one crew were unable to escape one of the orcas as it relentlessly swam around their boat. Related Posts: Orcas Launching Coordinated Attacks On Boats Scientists have been left baffled by incidents of orcas ramming sailing boats along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. Scientists think they know why orcas are ramming boats off Spanish coast. Her 46-foot boat was attacked in July, as a pugnacious pod of killer whales spun her boat 180 degrees and disabled the engine, causing it to drift into the Strait of Gibraltar shipping lanes where it had to wait an hour and a half for rescue. A group of killer whales rammed into a 45-foot yacht off the coast of Portugal, while skipper David Smith called the Coast Guard for support. “All ships, all ships,” it began. On 29 July, off Cape Trafalgar, Victoria Morris was crewing a 46ft delivery boat that was surrounded by nine orcas. In the latest incident, the crew contacted the coast guard, who told them to turn off the boat's systems and just sail. Two boats lost part of their rudders, at least one crew member suffered bruising from the impact of the ramming, and several boats sustained serious damage. Scientists have said they believe they know why killer whales started attacking boats off Spanish coast. A BRITISH sailor was left "terrified" after a group of orcas attacked his boat for hours as he desperately called the coastguard for help. Story at a glance. The clip shows two killer whales swimming and peeking their dorsal fins several feet from the tour group. Graeme Walker, his … FOOTAGE of a pod of whales ‘attacking’ and damaging a Navy sailboat off the coast of Galicia has gone viral. In late July, Victoria Morris’ boat was attacked by a pod of nine killer whales that rammed the boat so hard, its rudder broke and the engine failed. Morris’s sailing job was abandoned after the boat was lifted for repair, and she was diverted to another delivery. Killer Whales. ONE of the crew can be heard shouting “he broke the rudder” as the whales appear to slam the Mirfak Navy boat in the Rias Baixas as it … It lasted about two hours in total. The orcas, Morris said, were ramming into the keel, which is the flat blade beneath the boat that keeps it right-side up, and biting the rudder, which is essential for steering. FOOTAGE of a pod of whales ‘attacking’ and damaging a Navy sailboat off the coast of Galicia has gone viral. Inquiry into encounters off coasts of Spain and Portugal says speed could be a factor, Available for everyone, funded by readers. Scientists think they know why orcas are ramming boats off Spanish coast. Green said this is the second yacht his company has been delivering that has been involved in an attack, with the first having taken place on September 11. In this event, the boat lost its steering and had to be towed in. © 2021 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. I think people are thinking there is one pod in particular doing this, but we don't know why. She said the attacks are ongoing, although since Spain banned smaller boats from sailing in high-risk areas, incidents have become less frequent. "I don't think [those on-board] ever felt under true threat. Pete Green, the managing director at Halcyon Yachts, revealed the company was transporting a 36-foot boat to the U.K. when an orca rammed into … It was more harassment, several bumps, sometimes they'd hit the rudder that would affect the steering so they'd start going in circles.". Killer whales off the coast of Spain have begun targeting people and boats in vicious revenge attacks after sustaining injuries from rudders. Full story: ‘I’ve never seen or heard of attacks’ – scientists baffled by orcas harassing boats Susan Smillie Sun 13 Sep 2020 02.27 EDT Last modified on Sun 13 Sep 2020 06.02 EDT The moment fear kicked in, Morris says, was when she went below deck to prepare a grab bag – the stuff you take when abandoning ship. The Spanish maritime authorities warned vessels to “keep a distance”. A spate of attacks on boats in Spanish and Portuguese waters by killer whales have confused scientists and left at least one crewman injured. If they'd wanted to do some damage they could've done far worse. What has prompted the behavior is unknown. She’d just prefer not to get too close a view next time. VIDEO: Attack by orcas along Portugal Published on October 12th, 2020 There have been numerous reports of orcas attacking yachts along the coastline of … Footage from this attack can be seen below. By Victoria Gill. Democrats and Liberals Must Get Back To Economic Basics, Democrats Must Emphasize Boldness, Not Moderation. This is the worrying thing, if it's a new behavior they've developed for some reason. Read about this epic event here http://adventurebaycharters.com.au/orcastoryApex predator vs Apex predator! "They were lucky for the rudders not to break," Green said. See why nearly a quarter of a million subscribers begin their day with the Starting 5. She is currently sailing down the Spanish coast and in the early hours of Friday a VHF radio warning came in. In just the last two months, two boats … Researchers who study a small population in the Strait of Gibraltar say they are curious and it is normal for them to follow a boat closely, even to interact with the rudder, but never with the force suggested here. Earlier that week, another boat in the area reported a 50-minute encounter; the skipper said the force of the ramming “nearly dislocated the helmsman’s shoulder”. Orcas off the coast of Spain are ramming sailing boats, scaring crews and baffling scientists Back to video We apologize, but this video has … "You can hear in the film them ramming the rudder and hitting the boat. “”- YouTube video by Beckman’s Dog Training. ", "It was fairly playful, just bumping the rudders. Orcas ram boat in seas of Spain A Scottish yacht owner has described how his boat was attacked by three killer whales off the coast of Spain. "They got closer and closer," Green, who was not on board but whose company was delivering the yacht, told Newsweek. The cetaceans rammed the hull for over an hour, spinning the boat 180 degrees, disabling the engine and breaking the rudder, as they communicated with loud whistling. Killer whale attacks fishing boat in … It is not known if all the encounters involve the same pod but it is probable. Since summer, the sailors have reported that orcas … The boat lost steering and was towed into port to assess damage. ", You have 4 free articles remaining this month, Sign-up to our daily newsletter for more articles like this + access to 5 extra articles. It was definitely a scary experience.". "The orcas are pretty powerful. Have rogue orcas really been attacking boats in the Atlantic? Having assessed footage of some of the attacks, researchers said they were carried out … Dr Ruth Esteban, who has studied the Gibraltar orcas extensively, thinks it unlikely two groups would display such unusual behaviour. VIDEO: Attack by orcas along Portugal Published on October 12th, 2020 There have been numerous reports of orcas attacking yachts along the coastline of … The moment fear kicked in, Morris says, was when she went below deck to prepare a grab bag – the stuff you take when abandoning ship. It is too early to understand what is going on, but it might indicate stress in a population that is endangered. The pod rammed the boat for more than an hour, during which time the crew were too busy getting the sails in, readying the life raft and radioing a mayday – “Orca attack!” – to feel fear. A spate of attacks on boats in Spanish and Portuguese waters by killer whales have confused scientists and left at least one crewman injured. Killer whales have been attacking boats off the coast of Portugal and Spain in recent months, with reports of attacks dating back as early as July. López says that while this increase in killer whales attacking boats seems extreme, the encounters are still relatively rare. Meanwhile, a nearly 12-foot great white takes cover underwater, near the tour boat’s bow. Researchers say the three animals show signs of injury, but it is unclear whether this was the result of interactions with the boats or whether they were hurt before the attacks began. No serious damage was done. A video of killer whales attacking a yacht off the coast of Portugal has been released by the company delivering the vessel. Sailor Victoria Morris described what she dubbed an "orchestrated" attack by a group of nine orcas which surrounded her boat and rammed it for over an hour. But reports from sailors around the strait throughout July and August suggest this may be difficult – at least one pod appears to be pursuing boats in behaviour that scientists agree is “highly unusual” and “concerning”. There have been several reports of orcas striking sailing boats in the Straits of Gibraltar in recent months. Stock image showing two orcas. Ruth Esteban, a researcher with the Coordinator for the Study of Marine Mammals (CEMMA), who is analyzing the killer whale behavior, told Newsweek it is still unclear why the killer whales are targeting boats along this stretch of coastline. ... "Interactions with killer whales have affected, above all, medium-sized sailboats, with a … He felt the boat lift and said he was pushed around without steering for 15 minutes. Images Source: YouTube Clips 1, 2. Green, who has worked in the industry for 20 years, says they are still moving boats along this coast and they do not consider the killer whales to pose a serious risk. The latest incident occurred on Friday afternoon just off A Coruña, on the northern coast of Spain. An Alaska man said his boat was attacked over the weekend by an orca during a salmon fishing excursion with his 14-year-old son and two other people. “The noise was really scary. ONE of the crew can be heard shouting “he broke the rudder” as the whales appear to slam the Mirfak Navy boat in the Rias Baixas as it … Killer whales attack couple's boat leaving Brits horrified as they bite vessel The animals appear to be injured – but whether they are attacking the boats in revenge because they were previously hurt by a collision with a boat or just wounded when they deliberately ram boats at high speed remains a matter of guesswork. Alfonso Gomez-Jordana Martin, a member of a delivery crew boat, said that their boat was brought to a halt by a pod of four orcas. Three juvenile male orcas appear to be involved in most of the attacks, according to video footage reviewed by scientists. In the last two months, from southern to northern Spain, sailors have sent distress calls after worrying encounters. "Either is just simple curiosity of young individuals, or it was something that was triggered by some adverse situation with a vessel," she said. Full story: ‘I’ve never seen or heard of attacks’ – scientists baffled by orcas harassing boats Susan Smillie Sun 13 Sep 2020 02.27 EDT Last modified on Sun 13 Sep 2020 06.02 EDT Last modified on Sun 13 Sep 2020 11.02 BST. Meanwhile, a nearly 12-foot great white takes cover underwater, near the tour boat’s bow. Authorities say that groups of killer whales have been attacking boats in the Straits of Gibraltar, the area between Spain and Morocco. They were sailing off the coast of Porto on their way to Gibraltar when they saw what they initially thought were dolphins jumping from the water. However, as the animals got closer, they realized they were killer whales. At 11.30 the previous night, British couple Beverly Harris and Kevin Large’s 40ft yacht was brought to a sudden halt, then spun several times; Harris felt the boat “raise a little”. Paula Froelich, New York Post news.com.au … A group of rogue killer whales has been attacking boats off the coast of Spain and Portugal, and it is getting worse and worse, experts said. Around the same time there were radio warnings of orca sightings 70 miles south, at Vigo, near the site of at least two recent collisions. "The worry is if more pods start doing it," he said. Previous incident may have led Orcas to target boats, say experts, 'They were having a real go': man tells of orca encounter off Spain, Spain bans yachts from stretch of sea after orcas damage boats, 'I've never seen or heard of attacks': scientists baffled by orcas harassing boats, Boats off Spain damaged in orca encounters. On 30 August, a French-flagged vessel radioed the coastguard to say it was “under attack” from killer whales. Since summer, the sailors have reported that orcas … In late July, Morris was crewing a 46-ft delivery boat in Spain when nine orcas surrounded her. To continue reading login or create an account. The clip shows two killer whales swimming and peeking their dorsal fins several feet from the tour group. It felt, she said, “totally orchestrated”. After her last experience, Morris is a little jumpy, but, as a science graduate with plans to study marine biology, she is concerned for this vulnerable population of orcas and interested to learn more. One of the latest attacks by killer whales on boats off the coast of Spain and Portugal was filmed by the crew on board. They show signs of injuries from boats. All rights reserved. Sailor Victoria Morris described what she dubbed an "orchestrated" attack by a group of nine orcas which surrounded her boat and rammed it for over an hour. Even seeing orca is rare, never mind them attacking. In just the last two months, two boats … Footage shows the killer whales, also known as … The researchers do not have evidence to show whether the wounds were caused before the behavior began, or whether the wounds were caused by the behavior. There are no recorded incidents of orcas attacking humans before the bizarre boat-bashings, but they have been known to feast on other land-dwelling mammals like moose who swim between islands.. Killer whales attack boats off Spain and Portugal (Watch) Killer whales have been “attacking” sailing boats off the coasts of Spain and Portugal, in encounters one mariner said felt “totally orchestrated” and another described as “like a sledgehammer”. The orcas, Morris said, were ramming into the keel, which is the flat blade beneath the boat that keeps it right-side up, and biting the rudder, which is essential for steering. Several videos of the "attacks" show the huge black and white creatures buffeting boats and circling the vessels. “Orca just north of Vigo” – five miles from her location. “It’s mainly two of those guys … just going crazy,” biologist Renaud de Stephanis told the BBC. They were OK. A video of killer whales attacking a yacht off the coast of Portugal has been released by the company delivering the vessel. It's unclear whether these are intentional attacks or accidents. This, despite our somewhat frequent orca – human encounters. Highly intelligent social mammals, orcas are the largest of the dolphin family. There are about 50,000 orcas in our oceans and no recorded knowledge of anyone being hurt or injured by them. 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