Coordinated Orca Assault Leaves Crew Stunned and Yacht Destroyed
A pod of killer whales, also known as orcas, launched a harrowing attack on a $128,000 yacht, sinking it in the Mediterranean Sea. The orcas, regarded as some of the world’s most powerful predators, coordinated their assault for nearly two hours, leaving the crew in shock, according to the NY Post.
A voyage interrupted
Robert Powell, 59, and his crew were just 22 hours into their 10-day journey from Portugal to Greece when their 39-foot yacht, the ‘Bonhomme Willam,’ was surrounded by five orcas around 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday, July 24.
“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. Their sole intention was to sink the boat, and that was it,” Powell stated.
Relentless attack
Initially mistaking the first hit for a rock, Powell quickly realized the severity of the situation as the attacks intensified, rendering the yacht immobile. The killer whales then separated, each targeting different sections of the boat, including the keel and stern.
“They were circling. It was like watching wolves hunt. They were taking turns to come in — sometimes two would come in at the same time and hit it. So obviously pretty terrifying,” Powell described.
Despite desperate attempts to deter the orcas, including using firecrackers, Powell and his crew were ultimately rescued by a Spanish salvage vessel moments before the yacht plunged into the depths of the Mediterranean.
In May, another pod of orcas sank a 50-foot yacht in Moroccan waters by repeatedly ramming into it. Some studies suggest that killer whales may target boats for fun.
The Hunting tactics of orcas
Orcas, the largest of the dolphins, are easily recognizable by their distinctive black-and-white coloring. They are apex predators with a diverse diet, including fish, penguins, and marine mammals like sea lions and even other whales. They hunt in deadly pods, family groups of up to 40 individuals, employing cooperative hunting techniques similar to wolf packs.
Known for their ability to grab seals off ice shelves, orcas have been filmed working together to force their prey into the water before devouring them. Their intelligence and coordinated hunting strategies make them formidable predators of the sea.