Second orca attack in 24 hours leaves yacht with damaged rudder

Two people were on board the yacht when the orcas damaged its rudder, with the vessel later escorted safely back to Baiona

A yacht carrying two people was damaged by orcas off the coast of Galicia on August 30, in the second such incident in the region in less than 24 hours.

The encounter happened in the northern part of the Ría de Vigo, where the orcas damaged the yacht's rudder. Fortunately, the situation was brought under control and the two people on board were able to make their own way back to port.

Salvamento Marítimo received the alert at around 1:00 pm and sent the Salvamar Mirach to assist the yacht.

Another boat, the Savana, was also nearby and went alongside the damaged vessel. Coincidentally, there were scientists on board studying the behaviour of the orcas, and they told the rescue service that they had metal rudders available, which are more resistant to damage during encounters with the animals.

The crew of the yacht checked the vessel and found there was no water coming in. Its engine was also still working, meaning they could continue towards port at around six knots.

The Salvamar Mirach accompanied them as a precaution, and the yacht reached the marina at Baiona at around 4.30 pm. Luckily, nobody was injured during the interaction.

The incident came less than a day after another yacht was damaged by orcas in Galician waters. These encounters can cause serious damage to boats,  and scientists are still trying to understand exactly why the orcas behave this way.

What we know so far

The unusual behaviour by Iberian orcas was first recorded in 2020, when they began interacting with boats, particularly sailing boats. The animals have been seen approaching vessels, making physical contact and sometimes pushing or hitting the rudder hard enough to leave a boat unable to steer.

Scientists are still trying to work out exactly why it started. There is no evidence that the orcas are deliberately trying to harm people, and researchers generally describe what happens as an interaction rather than an attack.

There also appears to be a social learning element. Orcas are highly intelligent and learn behaviours from one another, so researchers are looking at whether the behaviour has spread between members of the population.

Their normal movements also bring them into contact with boats. The Iberian orca population is very small, with fewer than 50 adults, and the animals follow their main food source, bluefin tuna. During spring and summer they feed around the Strait of Gibraltar before moving north along the Portuguese and Galician coasts. They then head further out into the Atlantic before returning the following spring.

That seasonal journey takes them through some busy areas of the coast, where they encounter recreational sailing boats as well as other vessels. It also helps explain why interactions are particularly associated with the warmer months and why Galicia has become an important area for monitoring them. Spain's Environment Ministry says the period from April to October carries a greater likelihood of orca presence because of this migration.

What makes the behaviour particularly unusual is the orcas' interest in rudders. In some cases, the contact has been forceful enough to cause serious damage, while other encounters end without any damage to the boat.

The behaviour has now been recorded for several years, but there is still no simple answer to the question of why it began or why some orcas continue to interact with boats.

For sailors, that means these orca interactions remain a risk in areas where the animals are known to travel. For scientists, there is still plenty to learn about what is behind this unusual behaviour.

Image 1: SALVAMENTO MARÍTIMO
Image 2-3:Orca Ibérica GTOA