A yacht sank off the coast of Portugal after harassment by orcas and repeated blows to the rudder, while a second vessel suffered damage in a separate encounter on the same day, according to the Portuguese National Maritime Authority.

Published 9 hours ago

Lisbon, September 17 — A yacht sank off the coast of Portugal after repeated harassment by orcas, while a second vessel suffered damage in a separate encounter on the same day, according to the Portuguese National Maritime Authority.

Orcas Sink Yacht

The first incident occurred near Fonte da Telha beach, south of Lisbon, when a yacht carrying five people was approached by orcas shortly after midday. The animals repeatedly and forcefully struck the boat’s rudder, causing water to enter the hull.

The vessel that came to assist tried to tow the stricken yacht, but the boat eventually sank. All five passengers were rescued by nearby boats, and no injuries were reported.

The incident was captured by the Mercedes-Benz Oceanic Lounge, whose vessel was on a dolphin-watching trip. See the footage here.

The Damage Continues

Later, off the Bay of Cascais, a sailing vessel with four people on board also reported orca harassment. That boat sustained damage but remained afloat, and the crew was brought safely ashore. Maritime rescue services from Cascais and Lisbon responded to both alerts.

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Read about the history of orca interactions with yachts along this coastline, plus discover lots of useful resources and guidance on what to do if approached by orca at Noonsite’s Orca and Yachts page.

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Related Links:

• Spain, Galicia: Orca Take Advantage of Coastal Octopus and Enter Rias (03 September)
• Orcas sink tourist yacht off Portugal’s coast in latest attack (Independent)