A Yacht of over $128,000 vessel was attacked by a pack of killer whales in a harrowing ordeal that lasted for just two hours in the Mediterranean Sea.
Robert Powell, 59, and his crew were celebrating his birthday and were just 22 hours into their 10-day journey from Portugal to Greece when the pod targeted their $128,680 yacht causing the vessel to sink on Wednesday, reported New York Post.
Powell, an IT company owner, recounted the terrifying experience, saying, “To me, they were not playing at all, they knew exactly what they were doing. They knew the weak points of the boat, and they knew how to sink it.”
He compared the coordinated assault to the hunting tactics of wolves, with the orcas taking turns striking the boat.
The pod, consisting of five orcas, including two juveniles, focused their attack on various parts of the boat, starting with the rudder. After rendering the sailboat unable to steer, they separated and targeted different sections of the exterior, including the keel and stern. Despite being just two miles off the coast of Spain and radioing for help immediately, it took two hours for assistance to arrive. A Spanish salvage vessel helped the crew abandon the sinking ship just minutes before it disappeared beneath the waves, 130 feet below the surface.
Powell tried various methods to deter the attack, such as dropping firecrackers in the water and turning off the engine, but the pod remained determined. He believes this group of orcas may be responsible for similar attacks on other boats in European waters in recent years, reported New York Post.
In May, a pack of killer whales sank a 50-foot yacht in Moroccan waters, and last year, orcas interfered with a sailing race, forcing the crew to take defensive measures.
While some studies suggest that orcas may be targeting boats for fun, Powell warns of the potential for escalating conflict between humans and these marine mammals. “It’s only a matter of time before someone shoots one of these killer whales,” he said. “The fight between man and beast is going to get worse. Luckily none of us were in the water or got hurt. And it’s a lottery as to whether they hit you or not.”
Robert Powell, 59, and his crew were celebrating his birthday and were just 22 hours into their 10-day journey from Portugal to Greece when the pod targeted their $128,680 yacht causing the vessel to sink on Wednesday, reported New York Post.
Powell, an IT company owner, recounted the terrifying experience, saying, “To me, they were not playing at all, they knew exactly what they were doing. They knew the weak points of the boat, and they knew how to sink it.”
He compared the coordinated assault to the hunting tactics of wolves, with the orcas taking turns striking the boat.
The pod, consisting of five orcas, including two juveniles, focused their attack on various parts of the boat, starting with the rudder. After rendering the sailboat unable to steer, they separated and targeted different sections of the exterior, including the keel and stern. Despite being just two miles off the coast of Spain and radioing for help immediately, it took two hours for assistance to arrive. A Spanish salvage vessel helped the crew abandon the sinking ship just minutes before it disappeared beneath the waves, 130 feet below the surface.
Powell tried various methods to deter the attack, such as dropping firecrackers in the water and turning off the engine, but the pod remained determined. He believes this group of orcas may be responsible for similar attacks on other boats in European waters in recent years, reported New York Post.
In May, a pack of killer whales sank a 50-foot yacht in Moroccan waters, and last year, orcas interfered with a sailing race, forcing the crew to take defensive measures.
While some studies suggest that orcas may be targeting boats for fun, Powell warns of the potential for escalating conflict between humans and these marine mammals. “It’s only a matter of time before someone shoots one of these killer whales,” he said. “The fight between man and beast is going to get worse. Luckily none of us were in the water or got hurt. And it’s a lottery as to whether they hit you or not.”
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