Spanish Shores Strip Another Sailboat
A crew of audacious orcas off Spain’s coast targeted another yacht, this recent event occurring close to the Strait of Gibraltar, confirms renowned Polish sea-training provider, Morskie Mile. This incident transpired on October 31, when the leisure vessel, en route westward across the Strait close to Morocco, found itself under siege. According to Morskie Mile, the killer whales launched an assault on the yacht by persistently battering the rudder for a duration of 45 minutes, resulting in damages and water ingress.
Twilight Battle with the Beasts
In their desperate attempt to rescue the ship, the crew sought assistance from nearby harbor tugs and the Moroccan Navy. However, the damage was too severe, causing flooding onboard that was far too extensive. With the ship gradually succumbing to the unforgiving sea, the stranded crew safely evacuated the yacht. Unfortunately, the vessel ultimately sank in the vicinity of the Tangier Med port.
Tracing the Voyage
Through AIS data, the collapsible yacht is recognizable as Poland’s Grazie Mamma. Setting off from Ceuta on the eve of the unfortunate event, Grazie Mamma headed west, maintaining a steady course until the 31st afternoon. At approximately 1233 hours, the yacht abruptly veered off its route, displacing it completely towards the north. Struggling to stabilize its course, Grazie Mamma’s last AIS broadcast was at around 1500 hours that fateful afternoon.
The Vessel and its Predators
Boasting a striking Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 449 design, Grazie Mamma measured just a shade above 13 meters, fitting the broad description of all other vessels encountered off Spain by orcas. Research indicates these attacks consistently target sailboats measuring less than 15 meters in length, usually in motion. The encounters range from disruptive yet harmless to damaging and detrimentally impacting the vessel’s integrity, even sinking it – Grazie Mamma being the latter case.
Crew Safety During Orca Assaults
Interestingly, these assaults do not demonstrate any intent to hunt or cause harm to the crew. Throughout history, no documented incident of a fatal orca attack on a human in the wild exists. Yet, this insight might bring limited consolation to anxious owners of sunken and impaired yachts such as Grazie Mamma. Morskie Mile lamented over the loss in a statement, saying, “This vessel symbolized the best aspects of sea sailing for us. Enduring friendships were formed on board. The fond memories will be carried over to Grazie Mamma II.”
