Orcas and Yachts
Plan of the likely route and areas for attack risk.
Since 2020, there have been interactions between orcas and vessels (mostly sailboats) in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar, Portuguese coast and Galicia (Spain). Orca encounters are now a common risk for yachts making passage in the waters off the western Iberian peninsula.
Many yachts don’t come across Orcas and a great number sight killer whales but have an incident-free encounter. However there are instances where interactions have appeared “threatening”, with a growing number of yachts suffering rudder damage and in July 2022 a yacht sinking off Sines, Portugal, following a night time encounter with orcas.
Fishermen in the approaches to Gibraltar reported plenty of tuna in the area during July 2022, but a very unusually small number of orca sightings. It appears that the orcas migrated North to Galicia earlier than usual this year.
The reason for this recent and repetitive behavior towards small vessels is still not fully understood.
A growing number of yachting organisations are publishing advice for yachts, alongside recommendations from orca working groups. This can all be found in the useful resources on this page, as well as news of reported encounters with yachts and orca-related reports.
One of the Orcas photographed by the Spanish Naval yacht “Mirfak”
If you are planning a passage around the Iberian peninsula, do your research first and identify where you can get the latest location information on encounters and orca sightings. The facebook pages established for cruisers to discuss and report encouters are useful to read so that you as Skipper can establish what encounter-plan you intend to follow should you come across orcas on passage. Methods used vary greatly and should be considered alongside the official guidelines. See useful resources below for helpful links.
09 August 2022:
Useful Resources
Atlantic Orca Working Group (GTOA)
Groupo Trabajo Orca Atlantica (GTOA), or – Atlantic Orca Working Group. Their website logs sightings and interactions with vessels off the Iberian peninsula, plus has... Read More
Online Reporting Platform to Register Orca Sightings
The Cruising Association (CA) and Groupo Trabajo Orca Atlantica (GTOA – Atlantic Orca Working Group) have partnered to launch a new online reporting platform for... Read More
Orca (Killer Whale) Guidelines by the Royal Yachting Association (UK)
Advice to help prevent causing distress to Orcas and damage to your craft. Regularly revised guidelines.
https://www.rya.org.uk/news/revised-orca-guidelines... Read More
Orca Attack Reporting Facebook Page
Reporting platform for orca attacks on small vessels with 11,000 plus followers.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/435540734439160/
... Read More
Orca Interaction Advice to Yachts by the RCCPF
Henry Buchanan, author of Atlantic Spain and Portugal from the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation, shares this “Action Plan” if Orca are sighted and begin... Read More
Orca Protection in Spanish Waters and Advice for Yachts
The Spanish Government Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) give specific information about the laws that protect orcas in Spanish waters... Read More
Orca Recommendations by ICNF (Portugal)
ICNF (Portuguese Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests) recommend that tourist/pleasure vessels do not approach orcas.
https://www.amn.pt/DGAM/Capitanias/Olhao/Lists/Documentos_AMN/edital%20orcas_signed.pdf
https://www.icnf.pt/... Read More
Safety at Sea Facebook Page
This safety at sea Facebook page covers orca sightings and interactions around the Iberian peninsula.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/631608960737670/... Read More
Salvamento Marítimo
Spanish coastguard Facebook page - just put "orca" into the search to find latest reports and assistance rendered to yachts with rudder damage.
https://www.facebook.com/salvamentomaritimo.es... Read More
Spanish Cruisers Facebook Page
Facebook page in Spanish for local cruisers but picks up alot of local orca sightings and interactions/damage to yachts.
https://www.facebook.com/patronesdeyate/... Read More
Video: Cabo de Finisterre – Bahia de Corcubion – Encounter with Orcas
Video taken by a sailboat August 2022 that encoutered a group of orcas in Bahia de Corcubion when rounding Cabo de Finisterre, NW Spain. Ten... Read More
Whale Watching Regulations: Washington State
Regulations are in place in both Canada and the US which require vessels to keep 200 yards/meters away from endangered Southern resident killer whales. These... Read More
Reports
NW Spain, Finisterre: Speedy Repairs after Orca Damage
Date Published - November 14, 2021
Orcas have been interacting with yachts off the western Iberian Peninsula for some time now, widely reported on Noonsite and the web. SY Carissa was... Read More
France: Navigating the Canals and Rivers in a Small Yacht
Date Published - September 20, 2021
After dealing with inquisitive Orcas off the coast of Spain while on a recent yacht delivery, Martin Evans decided to take his yacht back to... Read More
Gibraltar to Cadiz: Orca Encounter – First Person Report
Date Published - June 13, 2021
After leaving Gibraltar, bound for Cadiz, sailing vessel La Dolce Vita encountered a pod of Orca. Her skipper Marcos C G Ferreira reports on... Read More
Washington, San Juan Island: Proposed No Go Zone to Protect Orca Feeding Areas
Date Published - January 21, 2010
As reported by Cruising Compass
Proposed Rules Would Restrict Boating In PNW Orca Feeding Areas
January 21, 2010
The first baby orca of the year has been born... Read More
News
Portugal: Yacht Sinks after Orca Interaction
Date Published - August 02, 2022
Five crew members were rescued from a yacht that sank after what was considered to be an interaction with Orcas offshore from the Portugese port... Read More
Iberian Peninsula: Online Reporting Platform Launched to Register Orca Interactions
Date Published - June 14, 2022
The Cruising Association (CA) and Groupo Trabajo Orca Atlantica (GTOA - Atlantic Orca Working Group) have partnered to launch a new online reporting platform for... Read More
Spain: Orca Damage Twenty Boats in One Month
Date Published - June 05, 2022
Orca encounters with yachts transiting the western Iberian peninsula have been going on for well over two years. As transit season for yachts begins in... Read More
Spain: Clarification on what tactics used by yachts to repel orcas are forbidden by Spanish law
Date Published - April 24, 2022
As yachts begin to transit from Northern Europe down the coast of Spain and Portugal to the Mediterranean, the UK Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is... Read More
NW Spain: Orca Activity Increasing – Daily Tally of Yachts Damaged
Date Published - October 06, 2021
With boat owners leaving the Med to get home to northern Europe for the winter and transAtlantic yachts departing northern Europe for departure from further... Read More
SW Spain, Gulf of Cadiz: Exclusion Zone between Cabo de Trafalgar and Punta Paloma
Date Published - August 06, 2021
An exclusion zone for (sailing and motor) vessels up to 15 metres has been established by the Marina Mercante off the coast of SW Spain... Read More
Atlantic Spain and Portugal: ORCA Interaction Advice to Yachts
Date Published - April 23, 2021
Following reports of pods of Orca harassing and in some cases ramming yachts in the area from the Straits of Gibraltar to NW Spain, Spanish... Read More
NW Spain: Government Introduces a No-Sailing-Zone following 29 Incidents Between Sailboats and Killer Whales
Date Published - September 22, 2020
Government and environmentalists can't explain why killer whales are playing with sailboats off the coast of Galicia. Twenty nine contacts with killer whales have been... Read More
Atlantic Spain and Portugal: Orcas Ramming Yachts
Date Published - September 14, 2020
From the Straits of Gibraltar to the tip of NW Spain, Orcas have been harassing sailing yachts and in a number of cases violently causing... Read More
Update History
August 2022: Page established and made live as orca encounters with yachts continue and increase, to bring together all orca resources, news and reports on Noonsite into one central place.