In a startling maritime incident, a pod of highly intelligent orcas has deliberately attacked and sunk a 50-foot sailing yacht navigating the treacherous waters of the Strait of Gibraltar. The event marks the latest escalation in a puzzling series of encounters between the formidable marine mammals and seafaring vessels in this region.
The Alboran Champagne, a sleek 15-metre yacht, was ambushed by a group of killer whales on Sunday morning. The crew, two experienced sailors, reported hearing loud blows and feeling the vessel shudder as the orcas rammed the hull and rudder with terrifying precision.
A Desperate Mayday Call
"They were hitting the rudder and the hull for almost 45 minutes. The force was incredible—we truly thought they might capsize us," one of the shaken crew members recounted after being rescued by a passing oil tanker. The Spanish maritime rescue service received their urgent mayday call and swiftly coordinated a rescue operation.
Despite the crew's efforts, the damage inflicted by the orcas was catastrophic. Seawater gushed into the hull, and within an hour, the Alboran Champagne was lost to the depths of the Mediterranean.
The Enigmatic 'Gladis' Pod
Marine biologists are intently studying this behaviour, which appears to be concentrated among a specific subpopulation of orcas. Dubbed the 'Gladis' pod, these whales are believed to be teaching one another this disruptive technique. The leading theory suggests the behaviour may have originated from a traumatic event involving a boat, perhaps a collision or entanglement, suffered by a matriarch of the group.
This is not an isolated event. Since 2020, researchers from the research group GTOA have documented hundreds of such interactions in the stretch of water between the Gulf of Cádiz and the Strait of Gibraltar. While most interactions are curious bumps and inspections, a small percentage have resulted in severe damage and now, at least five sinkings.
A Warning to Mariners
Spanish authorities have issued advisories to sailors transiting these waters, urging caution and providing protocols for what to do during an encounter. The advice is clear: stop the boat, de-power the sails, and radio for help. Do not engage or attempt to scare the animals away.
The sinking of the Alboran Champagne serves as a potent reminder of the raw power and intelligence of these majestic creatures and the mysteries that still lie beneath the waves.
