British sailors warned after killer whales ram boat off coast of northern Spain
BASQUE COAST, NORTHERN SPAIN, JUL 22 – Spanish coastguard rescued two French sailors after orcas rammed their yacht, damaging the rudder but causing no injuries, in an unusual incident linked to orca curiosity or boredom.
- British seafarers have been warned about orca encounters after an attack on a yacht off the Spanish coast.
- The orcas involved are believed to be 15 from a pod of 50 whales.
- Two sailors on the yacht Azurea made a mayday call when they were struck by orcas.
- Professor Volker Deecke advised UK sailors to familiarize themselves with safety guidance if orcas are spotted.
30 Articles
30 Articles
The Coast Guard rescued two people from the boat due to the aggressive behavior of the whales.
The experts analyze if with their attacks they could have broken the rudder of a boat two miles north of the town of Deba Guipuzco and another opposite Cabo Villano, in Biscay Read
Orca whales attack sailboat, Deba, Spain
Two French sailors were left shaken after their boat was attacked by orcas off the coast of Deba, northern Spain, on Monday, July 21. The killer whales – believed to be part of the now-infamous White Gladis pod – destroyed the boat’s rudder and sparked a frantic three-hour rescue. The attack took place roughly four kilometres from shore, as the French crew sailed towards Bilbao. Source


Two sailors rescued after ‘cool, calm and collected’ orcas ram yacht
Two sailors were saved by the Spanish coastguard after their vessel, Azurea, was targeted by the orcas off the coast of the Basque country on Monday afternoon. Scientists are struggling to explain the phenomenon that shows a group of aggression-free orcas ram the stern, hit the rudder and then lose interest once the boat has stopped.
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