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Killer whales sink $128,000 yacht in Mediterranean in harrowing 2-hour attack

Theo

A $128,000 yacht was attacked and sunk by a group of killer whales in the Mediterranean, leaving the crew in shock. According to New York PostRobert Powell, 59, and his crew were just 22 hours into their 10-day journey from Vilamoura in Portugal to Greece on Wednesday when they saw killer whales approaching them.

The orcas, normally known for their intelligence and curiosity, began displaying aggressive behavior and rammed the yacht with incredible force. The five orcas circled the 39-foot sailboat and took turns ramming it to pieces in a coordinated attack around 8 p.m.

“To me, it was no joke at all, they knew exactly what they were doing. They knew the boat’s weak points and knew how to sink it. Their only intention was to sink the boat and that was all,” said Mr Powell, who had actually planned to celebrate his birthday on board the boat.

The group of five orcas first targeted the rudder, which left the sailboat unsteerable after about 15 strokes. Then the orcas broke apart and systematically attacked different parts of the outside of the boat, with one focusing on the keel, another on the stern, and the others on other vulnerable areas.

“They were circling. It was like watching wolves hunting. They took turns – sometimes two would come at once and strike. So obviously quite scary,” Mr Powell added.

The crew was surprised by the severity of the attack and tried to steer the ship away from the whales, but their efforts were in vain. The orcas seemed determined to sink the yacht and showed an unusual level of aggression.

Fortunately, a Spanish salvage ship intervened and evacuated the crew just moments before the sailboat plunged 39 meters into the Mediterranean Sea and disappeared beneath the waves.

Killer whales are known for their complex social structures and do not typically display unprovoked aggression toward human vessels. While there are reports of orcas interacting with boats, such extreme behavior is rare. Some experts speculate that the attack may have been triggered by environmental stressors, changes in their habitat, or even previous negative encounters with boats.

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