Do you remember the killer whale Willy from “Free Willy”? He undoubtedly evokes only positive feelings. In our worldview, it is common that killer whales are like the pandas of the ocean – beautiful, nice and harmless animals. The situation is different with sharks – they have an exceptionally bad reputation thanks to “Jaws”. And what if I told you that reality is completely different from what Hollywood productions present? And that as sailors and divers, we love sharks, have dove with them many times, and tremble when we see an orca on the horizon because of frequent orca attacks?
Orca attacks around Gibraltar Strait
If you sail, you have certainly heard about orcas attacking yachts around Gibraltar Strait. Maybe you have even had to navigate through these areas? Non-sailors may have heard about the orca attacks in the news, because when a killer whale sinks a yacht, it is usually mentioned there.
In this article, we will try to explain what the deal is with killer whales attacking yachts. What orcas do in the Gibraltar area, why do they attack yachts and what do such attacks look like? And above all, we will share with you our knowledge and experience, how to protect yourself from such an orca attack and how to behave when an attack does occur.
Basic facts about killer whales
Let’s start with what orcas are. Killer whales (Orcinus Orca) are cetaceans from the delphinidae family. Contrary to its name, killer whales are not whales! In fact, they are the largest dolphins in the world. They are apex predators, which means that they have no natural enemies in nature. Orcas inhabit both the open oceans and coastal waters. They can weigh up to 11 tons and live up to 90 years!
The population of killer whales is divided into sub-populations, each with different behavior, diet, social structure and area that they live in. Today we will try to describe one of these sub-populations – Iberian Orcas.
Iberian Orca
The Iberian Orca is a very small sub-population of the oceanic killer whale. It consists of 5 pods, which together number about 50 individuals. These pods visit the Iberian Peninsula every year and are responsible for destroying yachts.
The main reason for the presence of killer whales in this area is the bluefin tuna – the basis of their diet. Killer whales follow the migration of tuna, which seasonally moves from the cold waters of the North Atlantic south to the Mediterranean Sea. Every year, in spring, tens of thousands of tuna cross the Strait of Gibraltar towards the Mediterranean Sea to reproduce. When spawning ends in late summer, the tuna, together with their young, travel the same route again, this time towards the Atlantic. And there again, killer whales are waiting. They can cover a distance of 120 miles a day at a speed of 6 knots to catch their prey.
The migration route of the tuna coincides with the area where the killer whales are. In spring, when the tuna crosses the Strait of Gibraltar, the most orca attacks on yachts are recorded in this area. In late summer and autumn, together with the tuna migrating north, the killer whales move north as well along the coast of the Iberian Peninsula, all the way to the Bay of Biscay. And then there are more attacks in the north. In 2023, for the first time, episodic attacks were recorded on the Mediterranean side – previously, killer whales did not cross the Strait of Gibraltar.
How to recognize a killer whale?
Killer whales are very distinctive mammals and are easy to recognize. This is all due to their black and white coloration and long, vertical dorsal fin, behind which there is a gray or white spot. Another characteristic feature is a white oval patch right behind the eye.
Males reach a length of 8 m, females 6 m. The dorsal fin of a male can be up to 1.8 m high! Juveniles are more difficult to recognize, their dorsal fin is smaller and rounded, which makes them easier to confuse with dolphins, for example.
History of Orca attacks on yachts
Killer whale attacks on yachts or other ships are not normal behavior for these animals. They have happened in the past – individual attacks on fishing boats have been recorded in Norway or in the Pacific. However, these were individual and isolated cases that never took such a massive and regular form. However, something caused that since 2020, some individuals of the Iberian orca, especially juveniles, began to attack yachts. Initially, this behavior was limited to 1 pod and individuals were named “Gladis.” Over time, 15 individuals from 2 pods have been identified that have (and still have) physical contact with yachts during attacks. Other individuals are often nearby but do not interact with vessels..
What does an Orca attack on a yacht look like?
Iberian orcas most often attack yachts from the stern. They move silently. Often, the first sign of their presence is the first hit to the side or a push on the rudder. Their attacks usually involve ramming, nudging, and biting, usually focusing on the rudder. The orcas use their heads or bodies to manipulate the rudder, sometimes turning the boat as much as 360°. Inspections of damaged vessels have shown teeth marks on the bow, keel, and rudder blade.
Rudders that have been severely damaged have been completely torn off or bent. Unfortunately, several vessels have sunk, which was caused by the complete ripping off of the rudder blade and creating a hole in the hull. The attack usually lasts about half an hour.
Since 2020, more than 600 interactions between orcas and vessels have been recorded. More than 250 boats have been damaged and four have sunk. The number of attacks is increasing year by year. From July to November 2020, 52 incidents were reported, in 2021 there were 197, and in 2022 – 207. So far, no people have been injured. The first interaction between an orca and a boat took place in the Strait of Gibraltar in May 2020.
After an orca attack, the unsteerable boats are towed to the nearest port, and those that managed to retain some part of the rudder are often able to sail on their own.
Why do orcas attack yachts?
A 2022 article in Marine Mammal Science suggests a number of possible reasons for the killer whales’ behavior.
Orcas play with yachts
It could be play or a natural curiosity. Researcher Deborah Giles believes that killer whales are “incredibly curious and playful animals” and that their actions may be more playful than aggressive.
Past strange behaviors of killer whales
I recently read about another strange behavior by a pod of killer whales in the Pacific Northwest. In 1987, several individuals began swimming with the carcass of a salmon they had caught on their heads. Although this behavior has no benefit to the orcas, it quickly spread through the pod and eventually to other, more distant sub-populations. The salmon hat craze, as it came, went. This behavior not only indicates extraordinary communication skills of the killer whales, but also indicates that the animals are engaging in and imitating strange behaviors. Probably for fun. Is attacking yachts fun, too?
Learning to hunt
Marine biologist Eric Shaw suggests that killer whales intentionally attack the rudder to immobilize the individual, much like they attack the pelvic fin of a victim to make it easier to attack. Since the attacks usually involve juveniles, it was thought to be a way for them to prepare for hunting as adults. This theory sounded probable, but years have passed, the young have grown up, and the attacks continue. Maybe they are resistant to knowledge and need to continue training? Or is there another reason?
Gladis takes revenge
At the beginning of the attacks, it was noticed that the orca that was most often involved in interactions with yachts had a lot of bruises and old wounds that could have been caused by a collision with a ship. So the theory of some kind of revenge was put forward, but the scale of the current attacks has already gone beyond the scope of one avenging orca.
Other possible causes of orca attacks
Others believe that this behavior may also be the result of disturbances caused by ships, lack of access to food due to overfishing of the seas, and many, many others. Or maybe a bit of all of the above?
What’s the true?
The purpose of this article is not to cite all the possible studies and theories behind the behavior of orcas. Above I have included those that seem most likely and were most often mentioned as causes of these animals’ strange behavior. My recent research and reading of scientific articles indicates that more and more scientists are leaning towards the theory of play, but nothing is certain on this topic. We can only hope that someday, people smarter than us will answer the question “Why do orcas attack yachts?”. Maybe then we will be able to coexist without disruption with these undoubtedly amazing animals.
How to prepare for sailing to the regions of orcas?
We had the problem of orca attacks in the Iberian Peninsula in mind even when buying a yacht. Potential boats that were already in the Mediterranean Sea got an extra plus from us for not having to sail through dangerous areas in the first season of our journey.
However, we bought the yacht in Sweden, so there was nothing left to do but prepare well for an encounter with orcas.
Different crews approach the subject differently. Charter crews prepare for orcas differently than us, full time cruisers, when our home and a large part of our property are threatened. That is why we took orca attacks very seriously from the beginning.
When planning to sail to areas where killer whale attacks occur, there are several measures that can be taken in advance to reduce the likelihood of an attack.
Familiarize yourself with the seasonality of attacks
As we wrote earlier, orcas follow migrating tuna. The first, basic step is to check where attacks most often occur at the time you plan your sail. If you find yourself in an area and at a time where there are several attacks per day, maybe this is a hint to plan your trip in different dates?
Be informed about orca attacks
There are currently several good websites and apps that present information about killer whales in a very factual way and provide information on the latest recommendations. You should familiarize yourself with them at the planning stage of your journey. There you will find information about the movement of the pods and you will find out where an attack has occurred, almost live. In our opinion, the best website and app is https://www.orcas.pt/. Through this site you will also gain access to groups on Telegram, where sailors post live information about interactions with orcas or uneventful passages.
The second application is GT Orcas. Here you will also find a map with current locations of orca attacks and their type.
Both of these sites/applications encourage reporting encounters with orcas, even if there was no damage. They provide special forms for this purpose. This is very important, because any information about the behavior and position of orcas is useful in monitoring and preventing future attacks.
In addition to the above-mentioned sites, you will also find groups on Facebook, where sailors exchange experiences.
Plan daytime sailing only
It is recommended not to sail at night in areas where orca attacks occur. Not because orcas attack more often at night, but because you can see more. During the day, you can notice the approaching pod faster and have time to react. If your yacht is damaged anyway, it is easier to carry out a rescue operation or towing during the day. Sailing during the day only complicates and extends the passage through these areas, but we strictly adhered to this.
Stay in shallow waters
Statistics show that the number of attacks at depths below 20 meters is significantly lower. Why? The orca is a huge animal and needs space to attack. 20 meters or shallower is not enough. It is therefore recommended to stick to shallow waters whenever possible, which means sailing close to the shore. This is not always possible or safe, so you have to ask yourself whether to stick close to the rocks in rough seas or risk an encounter with orcas.
In the Barbate area during the tuna season (spring-summer), tuna nets are permanently installed, which makes it impossible to sail close to the shore. Navigating around them, at depths of 50-60 meters is where attacks occur most often.
We were lucky that the tuna season was ending and the nets had already been removed, so it was possible for us to stay in shallower waters.
Motoring only?
We are writing about this because it is an official recommendation, but we do not agree with it. There are no statistics confirming that yachts sailing were attacked more often than motoring vessels. Perhaps the reason for this recommendation is faster and greater maneuverability in the event of an attack, but we decided to sail whenever the weather allowed.
Be prepared with equipment
There are quite a few methods and recommendations on what equipment to prepare for an orca attack. Attacks have been going on for so long that knowledge of what works and what does not is widely available. There are so many methods that we are not able to use every one, because we simply don’t have enough hands. Especially when sailing short handed, like we do.
So let’s take a look at the most popular ones:
Firecrackers
Yes, firecrackers. Before animal lovers attack us for writing about firecrackers for poor orcas, let me tell you what firecrackers are. They are the same as a shotgun used to scare away a bear in Svalbard! And no one has a problem with that.
Firecrackers are and have been used for a long time by fishermen to scare away dolphins, orcas and other animals that are destroying their nets. They are not used to kill the animal, only to scare and disorient it. No firecracker will ever kill an orca, it will not even hurt it.
Firecrackers are sold in Spanish marinas, but you can buy them in regular fireworks stores. Remember that they must be able to explode underwater and sink – it is good to check that in advance. Alternatively, you can attach some weight to them.
The only problem with firecrackers is their legality – for example, they are not allowed in France.
Would I use a firecracker if my floating home was in danger of sinking? Even ten if necessary. Even in France.
Pingers
A pinger is a small, streamlined device that, when pulled behind a boat, emits various sounds. And these sounds are the key to the effectiveness of a pinger. The commonly available pingers (red ones) on the market have proven to be ineffective. Why? Because they were programmed for smaller dolphins that destroyed fishing nets.
When preparing for our journey, we purchased a pinger that was programmed for the frequencies of whales and killer whales. It produces a sound that killer whales identify as “go away”. According to the manufacturer (data as of December 2023), out of 109 boats using this pinger, 107 sailed without any interaction with killer whales. Every six months we receive a newsletter with the latest, very promising statistics. The downside is undoubtedly the high price. This article is not intended to advertise this device, because we will never be sure whether it was thanks to it that we sailed safely. Maybe we were just lucky? We towed the pinger on a steel line behind the yacht from Porto to Malaga. Day after day.
Banging a metal pipe with a hammer
Hitting a metal rod underwater with a hammer. This is apparently quite an effective method, as orcas don’t like the sound (similar to firecrackers). The downside is that you need a metal rod/pipe. We know that some people install metal structures on their yachts that they lower into the water if necessary, but we decided against it. However, due to the effectiveness of this solution, we had a plan to drop our swimming ladder into the water in case of an attack and hit it with a hammer.
Deploying sand into water
Sand. Sand dumped into the water irritates the nostrils of orcas and reduces visibility. Some people prepare sandbags that they hang around the stern, ready to be dropped. Supposedly it works. Disadvantages – the time of this operation and often the need to leave the cockpit, which is not recommended during an attack. And of course the need to carry sandbags. We did not decide on this either.
Other methods
Less popular and practical methods include: pouring detergents or burnt oil into the water, installing various fancy structures or spikes on the rudder blade, which are supposed to make it harder to bite.
What to choose?
As I wrote earlier, when sailing short handed, you cannot have and do everything. You have to make a decision and choose a maximum of 2-3 means that will always be ready (and not stored under the deck) and have a specific plan for their use. It is worth considering modifying the yacht so that a possible tearing off of the freely hanging rudder blade does not lead to the sinking of the vessel. A fin modified in this way will also be safer in other situations.
What to do during an attack?
Over the course of 4 years of attacks, recommendations have been developed that should be followed in the event of an orca attack. Some of them have evolved over time.
Should you stop your yacht during orca attack?
There are many differences on the subject of stopping a yacht. Initially, it was recommended to stop the vessel and wait until the killer whales get bored. However, studies have shown that yachts that stopped were attacked until the rudder blade was completely destroyed. Attacks sometimes lasted for hours.
The latest recommendation from the Spanish authorities, based on scientific research, is NOT TO STOP the yacht. Here, statistics have shown that the killer whales did follow the yacht and attack the fin for several minutes, but quickly gave up and returned to the pod.
If it is safe to do so, you should set a course for shallower waters, killer whales will usually not follow you there.
Let go of the steering wheel and turn off the autopilot!
Strong impacts on the rudder blade will cause the steering wheel to move violently. It is best to let go of the rudder and not risk breaking your arm or other injuries.
Do not leave the cockpit, do not lean overboard
There are known cases when orcas turned large yachts 360 degrees in a few seconds. In such a situation, it is very easy to lose balance and fall overboard.
Other recommendations during orca attack
Some recommendations call for turning off the depth gauge, radio and instruments, suggesting that they may interfere with the orcas in some way. There are no scientific studies to confirm these theories and we personally would use our workforce for other, more effective activities. However, if you have more crew to work – why not.
If the orca attack is long and intense, monitor possible water ingress to the hull.
Communicate
If time and situation allow: report the situation on channel 16, write in Telegram groups where the orcas are, take photos for identification. In my opinion, these steps are only feasible if we have a large crew. With two people, during an attack, I wouldn’t even bother.
Orca Attacks – Summary
As you can see from the length of this article, orca attacks are a wide topic. Over 4 years of attacks, many legends have been created, as well as reliable scientific studies. Although we still do not know why orcas have targeted yachts, we have a growing knowledge of how to prepare for a possible attack and how to avoid it.
I believe that everyone approaches the threat differently. For example, we met a new catamaran during delivery to a customer who did not follow any recommendations and had no preventive measures on board. It was attacked 2 times in 2 weeks. But the crew was supposed to deliver the yacht on time and they did. We took the subject much more seriously when our home was threatened.
We realistically assessed what preventive measures we could use in a two-person crew, we had a plan in case of an attack, and we both sat on watch most of the time. Also, we decided to buy the previously mentioned pinger – perhaps it was also thanks to it that the orcas stayed away. The late season also helped us, because the orcas were already migrating north, while we were sailing south. We will never know what worked and what was just a matter of luck. But we know that at the beginning of the 2025 season we will have to face the orcas again, sailing through their areas.
How can we help?
If you need help planning a cruise through these areas, choosing the right preventive measures for your sailing profile – write to us. Not all solutions will work for everyone. We will share our knowledge about specific solutions and products as part of sailing consultations.
Remember to always check updated recommendations and information about orca attacks, as they may change with time.
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