Relentless orca 'attack' sinks yacht in just 45 minutes
Topics: Animals, Nature, World News
Joe Yates
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Topics: Animals, Nature, World News
A group of killer whales attacking your ship while you're in the middle of the ocean has to be one of the most terrifying things that could ever happen.
Orcas are one of the most intelligent animals in the world and I'd argue that they are far more dangerous than sharks if they want to be.
Meanwhile, I spoke to a shark expert recently who explained that even great whites don't want to eat humans and if they do swim up to you, all you need to do is push them away on their nose with your fins - if you've gone in with scuba gear anyway.
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Although orcas have never killed a human in the wild, four people have died from killer whales kept in captivity.
Anyway, so news of relentless orcas attacking and sinking a yacht in just 45 minutes is scary, to say the least.
It happened in October 2023 when a killer whale pod - which is a family group of orcas - launched a vicious attack on a Polish yacht while travelling in the Strait of Gibraltar.
It lasted for 45 minutes and even the Moroccan Navy couldn't thwart their attack, with the vessel sinking close to the port of Tangier Med, in Morocco.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the attack.
Taking to Facebook at the time, Morskie Mile, the operators of the yacht, posted: "Yesterday, in the Strait of Gibraltar, in the early afternoon, our yacht was attacked by a pod of killer whales. They hit the rudder blade for 45 minutes, causing major damage and a leak.
"Despite attempts to bring the yacht to port made by the captain, the crew and rescuers from the SAR [search and rescue vessels], port tugboats and the Moroccan Navy, the unit sank near the entrance to the Tanger Med port. The crew is safe, safe and sound in Spain.
"For us, this yacht was everything that was great about sea sailing. Long-term friendships were formed on board. We sailed this yacht through the most beautiful places in Europe and the Atlantic archipelagos, trained numerous yacht helmsmen, discovered beautiful and unknown places, tasted Mediterranean specialties and sailed, sailed, sailed.
"We will take very good memories to Grazie Mamma II. Love for the sea always wins, and friendships will remain with us.
"We are working to ensure that the upcoming cruises in the Canary Islands take place as planned on our friends' yachts. We will contact all our guests in the coming days."