Since 2020, reports of orcas interacting with sailing boats along the Iberian coast have been making headlines. The damage that these animals can cause ranges from damaged oar blades to complete loss of steering.
The crew’s actions during orca attacks are important
A video showing an encounter between a yacht and orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar has been circulating on social media for the past few days. Rui Alves analyses the video and the crew’s actions.
The orca expert, whose platform connects thousands of sailors and scientists, explains the behaviour of orcas that poses challenges for boat crews. His advice: if you are well-informed and prepared, you can minimise the risk considerably.
Leave the danger zone
However, he warns against taking hasty defensive measures, which could harm both the crew and the animals. Instead, he recommends leaving the danger zone quickly if a rudder blade catches the orcas’ attention.
Rui Alves also incorporates the findings of other scientists into his analyses, explaining how orcas.pt works well and offers interesting explanations in the podcast about the behavioural patterns of orcas. For example, he puts the 127 incidents recorded last year into perspective by comparing them with the large number of boats sailing in the area.
You can listen to the YACHT sailing podcast with Rui Alves about the orca attacks here
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Leonie Meyer
Editor News & Panorama
