A video has been circulating on social media for days, showing an unusually peaceful encounter with orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar. Underwater footage captures the animals examining the rudder blade of a yacht and biting into it. The crew appear relaxed; no one is wearing life jackets, and someone is flying a drone. One crew member even describes the encounter on social media as the “most beautiful moment” of the entire Atlantic crossing. Yet the longer you watch, the more questions arise. A request for comment sent to the content creators has so far gone unanswered.
The video: Spectacular footage, little context
The video is entitled "Underwater with the Orcas of Gibraltar // Raw Rudder Interaction" and shows around four or five orcas – presumably a mother and her calves – coming into contact with the rudder of a sailing yacht. The footage looks professional, and the atmosphere on board is surprisingly calm.
Above the video, the content creator writes: “The Iberian orca is one of the rarest whales in the world, with fewer than 50 individuals remaining. Since 2020, this small population has developed a fascinating and unique cultural behaviour: interacting with the oars of medium-sized sailing boats travelling near the Strait of Gibraltar. Much has been said about this phenomenon, but very little has been shown from underwater. This footage speaks for itself and makes it difficult to argue that what these animals are doing has anything to do with an aggressive attack.”
There is a copyright notice below the video; distribution requires a licence. We have therefore decided not to embed the video here as we usually do, and are instead providing you with a Link to YouTube.
The upload was produced by Satori Factory, a commercial content production company which, according to its own description, creates “inspiring videos” for social media campaigns and works with clients such as Red Bull, Samsung and Ralph Lauren
Exactly when and why the encounter with the orcas took place remains unclear for the time being. We received no reply to a detailed enquiry from our editorial team containing specific questions about the location, time, boat details, safety measures and the circumstances of the encounter.
A serious problem
Encounters with orcas off the Iberian coast have been a growing problem for sailors since 2020. By 2022, the number of documented incidents had risen to 180 per year; by 2024, the figure stood at 128. The figures did not fall because the problem had disappeared, but because sailors are better informed and plan their routes accordingly. Scientists estimate that around 15 out of 30 to 40 animals in the affected orca pod actively attack boats – and that the young animals learn this behaviour. These interactions are continuing this year too: in this month alone, ten attacks on yachts have already been reported – most of them in the Strait of Gibraltar.
The consequences can be dramatic. In November 2022, a yacht sank off the coast of Gibraltar following a 45-minute attack. In October 2024, orcas sank the French yacht ‘Ti’fare’ 45 nautical miles south-west of Peniche – a family of five, including three children aged between eight and twelve, had to take refuge in the liferaft and were rescued after an extensive search. In September 2025, a sailing yacht sank off the Costa da Caparica near Lisbon after orcas had damaged the rudder. Even large racing yachts were not spared: during the 2023 Ocean Race, two VO65 yachts were attacked off Gibraltar.
When social media has the answers
Although the questions from the editorial team have so far remained unanswered, the comments and replies under the YouTube video paint a fairly clear picture. The channel @SatoriAmbientSeries, which uploaded the video, reconstructs the events in detail in its replies.
Instagram posts from Satory Factory describe how the encounter with the orcas took place on the final day of an Atlantic crossing in the Strait of Gibraltar. Another post from the same account states that they crossed the Atlantic aboard “The Escape Adventure”. The boat, a Norwegian Hanse 548, was travelling at around nine knots in the Strait of Gibraltar at the end of the Atlantic crossing. The crew had deliberately chosen a route where fewer orca sightings had recently been reported. Nevertheless, the animals took notice.
Initially, the crew tried to follow standard advice: use the engine, create a current at the rudder, and do not stop. However, this phase was said to have been considerably more intense than the calmer scenes shown in the video. A powerful blow eventually damaged the steering system, prompting them to stop the boat. Only then did the situation calm down. The orcas were reportedly less attacking the rudder and more examining it. According to the uploader, a later attempt to start the engine exacerbated the situation again. They therefore decided to remain still. After some time, the orcas lost interest. The crew regained control using an emergency tiller and sailed to their destination harbour under their own power.
Shortly before encountering the orcas, the Hanse’s course veers a few degrees north; the boat slows down until it eventually drifts slowly westwards. After the incident, the boat picks up speed and sails through the Strait of Gibraltar at up to eight knots.
Bizarre scenes
Some scenes in the video seem strange given the sometimes severe damage that yachts have sustained in orca attacks. The uploader does, however, describe comprehensive safety precautions – a Mayday plan, radio contact, Sea Shepherd and the coastguard within reach. However, no one on board is wearing a life jacket – in a situation which the uploader himself describes as potentially dangerous and in which “the outcome was in the orcas’ hands”.
During the event, someone on board flies a drone to capture aerial footage. The footage shows a sailor leaning over the bow to watch the animals as they approach. A crew member describes the encounter on social media as “the most beautiful moment of the entire Atlantic crossing”. At the same time, underwater footage is being filmed.
Orca contact for clicks?
Rui Alves is the founder and operator of orcas.pt, the central information platform for orca sightings and interactions off the Iberian coast. The Portuguese IT expert has been working for years on the collection, validation and dissemination of orca data: He is in close contact with scientists from Portugal and Spain, public authorities, the Portuguese and Spanish navies, and sailors. His community comprises several thousand members, and the Portuguese and Spanish navies make official use of his data.
His assessment of the video: “To the best of my knowledge, the producer deliberately sailed his boat into the area to film this footage. In my opinion, this was done purely for commercial reasons. He is not a scientist and was fully aware of the orcas’ presence that day. The damage to the rudder will presumably be covered by insurance or through the sale of the footage. I consider this approach highly reprehensible. Our primary aim should be to help the orcas break this behaviour, rather than deliberately provoking it for entertainment or profit.”
What experts actually recommend
The behavioural guidelines developed by Rui Alves and other experts, based on tests carried out with scientists and sailors, differ significantly from what is shown in the video. The clear recommendation is: do not stop; carry on sailing, ideally towards the coast into shallow water less than 20 metres deep. The reason: if a boat stops, the orcas can attack the rudder until it breaks. If the boat carries on, after a while the orca loses contact with its group and returns – the boat ceases to be of interest.
Alves also strongly advises against the frequently recommended practice of sailing in reverse. The risk of damaging the rudder or the rudder mounting is enormous in rough seas and strong currents. Rudder blades are not designed for sailing in reverse under such conditions. Furthermore, an analysis of all documented cases shows that: In shallow water less than 20 metres deep, there were only 34 incidents over a six-year period. Tuna, the orcas’ prey, do not inhabit this area. Shallow water therefore remains the safest option – despite the risk posed by fixed nets, which sailors must weigh up.
Alves emphasises: Preparation is crucial. Sailors should keep up to date with the latest sightings, prepare their crew, draw up an emergency plan and make use of multiple sources of information.
Do these images trivialise the issue?
The viral video may be spectacular and undoubtedly provides fascinating insights into the behaviour of orcas. Perhaps it can also help to understand and resolve the issue of interactions with orcas. At the same time, however, it trivialises a situation that can be very real and dangerous for other sailors. Under no circumstances should it encourage people to seek close encounters with these marine mammals off the Iberian Peninsula at this time.
The Norwegian Erichsen family was attacked by orcas twice in the space of a month in September 2022. They described their experience quite differently: “It really was like a never-ending nightmare. Our children were terrified, and we watched as pieces of our yacht that had been bitten off floated in the water whilst the orcas kept slamming into the hull.” During the first attack, the assault lasted 30 to 45 minutes, and the rudder was chewed to the point where the boat could no longer be manoeuvred. Even switching off the engine and the echo sounder, and reversing, did not help – even when the boat was being towed, the orcas did not let up.
Sources of information for sailors
Sailors wishing to sail in the affected areas should make sure they are fully informed in advance. The website orcas.pt It contains maps showing recent sightings and interactions, a hotspot map of the Strait of Gibraltar, reporting options, guidance on how to behave and further information. The operator also runs Telegram and Facebook groups.
The content of the British websites is similar Cruising Association and the Spanish Atlantic Orca Working Group (GTOA), which work together. Both also provide maps and reporting options. The Cruising Association publishes statistics and reports, whilst the GTOA operates a traffic-light warning system for individual sea areas, which is updated regularly.
The GTOA’s GT Orca app is particularly user-friendly; it was developed to support the conservation, research and education relating to marine mammals. It allows users to identify sightings and interactions and filter them by time period. Users can report their own sightings directly. The app also includes safety guidelines, an alert system and advice on how to behave when encountering orcas.
Ursula Meer
Redakteurin Panorama und Reise
