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-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Scientists Baffled by Orcas Ramming Sailboats, Grabbing Rudders
2020-09-24
[OldSaltBlog] Despite being dubbed killer whales, orcas in the wild have a long history of not attacking humans and rarely attacking boats.

But, something very strange has been happening recently off the coast of Spain and Portugal. Pods of orcas have been reported to be ramming sailboats and often grabbing their rudders. The encounters have been reported from Gibraltar to Galacia and have caused significant damage, most often to the boat’s steering. Scientists are at a loss to explain the behavior.

The Guardian reports that in the last two months, from southern to northern Spain, sailors have sent distress calls after worrying encounters. Two boats lost part of their rudders, at least one crew member suffered bruising from the impact of the ramming, and several boats sustained serious damage.

The latest incident occurred on Friday afternoon just off A Coruña, on the northern coast of Spain. Halcyon Yachts was taking a 36ft boat to the UK when an orca rammed its stern at least 15 times, according to Pete Green, the company’s managing director. The boat lost steering and was towed into port to assess damage.

Around the same time there were radio warnings of orca sightings 70 miles south, at Vigo, near the site of at least two recent collisions. On 30 August, a French-flagged vessel radioed the coastguard to say it was “under attack” from killer whales. Later that day, a Spanish naval yacht, Mirfak, lost part of its rudder after an encounter with orcas under the stern.

On 29 July, off Cape Trafalgar, Victoria Morris was crewing a 46ft delivery boat that was surrounded by nine orcas. The cetaceans rammed the hull for over an hour, spinning the boat 180 degrees, disabling the engine, and breaking the rudder, as they communicated with loud whistling. The boat was towed to the nearby town of Barbate, she said. When the boat was inspected, they discovered that the keel was covered in bite marks and two-thirds of the rudder was torn off.

Earlier that week, another boat in the area reported a 50-minute encounter; the skipper said the force of the ramming “nearly dislocated the helmsman’s shoulder”.
More at story link.
Posted by:3dc

#13  ^ that ain't chopped liver!
Posted by: Elmereting Wherenter6164   2020-09-24 21:21  

#12  Let's not forget their fave, shark liver.
Posted by: Silentbrick   2020-09-24 17:04  

#11  Orcas: superior intelligence, ferocity and refined tastes for sweet meats
Posted by: Crealet Bourbon2554   2020-09-24 16:18  

#10  It is 2020 after all and if scientists are baffled they ought do what everybody else has and call in the Experts! That'll clear things up.
Posted by: Cesare   2020-09-24 15:39  

#9  Antifa cell^H^H^H^H pod
Posted by: KBK   2020-09-24 10:57  

#8  It's obviously due to climate change. In any case, it's Trump's fault.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia    2020-09-24 10:11  

#7  Orcas are insanely smart begging the question why? The color of the hulls would make no difference given these animal's IQ.

Curious.
Posted by: Woodrow   2020-09-24 09:34  

#6  Who had animals attacking humans for an end of world scenario in September?
Posted by: DarthVader   2020-09-24 08:53  

#5  Dolphin pods tease, bump, bite and try to disorient whales, turtles and larger fish (when they're not trying to eat them, that is). Marine biologists in some videos I've seen call it a form of play and practice for encountering their real enemies, sharks and Orcas.

Perhaps the Orcas here were bored and needed something to do.
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2020-09-24 08:04  

#4  Maybe the Colombians lost a shipment of PCP in the sea?
Posted by: Dron66046   2020-09-24 06:28  

#3  I'm curious what the color of the bottom paint was?

If the boats used black or some other dark zinc based bottom paint, the orcas might think the silent running boats is a natural prey! Copper based bottom paints had been banned in many locals banned copper based bottom paint due to copper negative effect on local marine life.

Or maybe the orcas just needed more fiber in their diet?
Posted by: Seeking Cure For Ignorance   2020-09-24 05:53  

#2  Even deep sea denizens are getting agitated.
I blame the shifting poles.
Posted by: Skidmark   2020-09-24 05:38  

#1  A Bertram Chandler: "Change of Heart"
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2020-09-24 03:39  

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