Why are orcas attacking boats off the coast of Portugal?

Experts believe orcas may be teaching each other to attack boats, possibly originating from one orca's traumatic experience, leading to coordinated strikes.

What happened to the Dutch family's yacht during the orca attack?

The yacht was violently rocked, rammed by killer whales, sustained damage, and began taking on water before reaching shore.

Are orca attacks on boats common near Nazare?

Yes, reports of killer whale rammings and attacks on vessels have become increasingly common in the area in recent months.

Home / Environment / Orcas Violently Attack Dutch Yacht Off Portugal Coast

Orcas Violently Attack Dutch Yacht Off Portugal Coast

2 Dec

•

Summary

A Dutch family's yacht was violently attacked by killer whales near Nazare.
The vessel sustained damage and took on water but reached shore safely.
Orca attacks on boats are frequent in the region, with similar incidents reported.

Orcas Violently Attack Dutch Yacht Off Portugal Coast

A Dutch family experienced a violent encounter with killer whales off the coast of Nazare, Portugal, during a nighttime sailing trip from Lisbon to Porto. The yacht was aggressively rocked and rammed by orcas, causing significant damage and leading to the vessel taking on water. Despite the terrifying ordeal, the family managed to safely guide the damaged boat to shore, where it later capsized on the sand. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.

This attack highlights a concerning pattern of orca interactions with vessels in the region. Similar rammings and attacks have been reported in recent months, including an incident in November where a French family was rescued from a sinking sailboat targeted by orcas. In September, another crew survived a terrifying encounter before the same pod sank a tourist vessel nearby.