Orca Attack Sinks British Yacht in Strait of Gibraltar, Crew Rescued

The crew of a British yacht was rescued after their vessel was sunk by orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar, as reported by Spanish authorities. This incident is part of a series of interactions between orcas and midsize sailing yachts off the coast of Spain. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at Tarifa received a distress call from the yacht Bonhomme William, reporting that their vessel had been disabled by orcas and was adrift about two miles off Punta Camarinal in the strait’s western entrance. The orcas continued to strike the disabled vessel, causing it to take on water and eventually sink, prompting the crew to deploy their life raft as a precaution.

The rescue vessel Salvamar Enif arrived on the scene, rescued the three sailors, and retrieved hazardous materials from the sinking yacht. The crewmembers were safely delivered to shore in Cadiz. This is the second orca-related sinking in the area in three months, with a previous incident involving the yacht Alboran Cognac off Tangier. Researchers have noted that the orcas target sailing yachts under 15 meters in length, while showing indifference towards the crew.

Some scientists believe that the orcas’ behavior towards yachts may be a form of play, with the whales possibly enjoying slamming sailboat rudders to watch the boats spin around. Another theory suggests that the orcas may be seeking revenge for an injury caused by a vessel in the past. Despite the regular interactions between orcas and yachts, there has never been a recorded fatal orca attack in the wild, highlighting the unique and puzzling nature of these incidents.

Source .