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Scientists Have a New Theory About Why Orcas Are Attacking Boats

A pod of orcas damaged a boat and left its two-person crew stranded. It was the latest in a string of attacks that research suggests could be used for hunting practice.

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By Lynsey Chutel

Reporting from London

The orcas have struck again — this time ramming a sailboat off Spain’s northwest coast, rescue workers said on Tuesday.

A pod of orcas damaged the rudder of a sailboat, leaving its two-person crew stranded in the waters off Cape Finisterre Sunday, according to an emailed statement from the rescue workers. It is the latest in a string of attacks by pods of orcas swimming around the Iberian Peninsula.

While the sailboat, the Amidala, did not sink, pods of orcas have sunk several vessels in recent years. Researchers still do not know whether the attacks are playful or malicious, but a new theory based on studying the troublesome pods of orcas suggests that they could be using the boats as practice targets for new hunting techniques. Other competing theories still exist.

Regardless of the orcas’ intentions, the behavior is enough to worry sailors journeying in the highly trafficked waters around North Africa, Spain and Portugal.

The Amidala, manned by a crew of two Belgians, encountered an unknown number of orcas on Sunday afternoon. They sent a mayday distress call to the Finisterre Maritime Rescue Center, which towed the vessel back to shore, the center said.

The sailboat’s damaged rudder, and poor weather conditions in the area, made the rescue more arduous, with waves reaching up to nearly 10 feet and winds hitting speeds of 40 miles per hour. A female crew member on the Amidala suffered injuries to her hand as the sailboat was being towed, and she was transferred to a rescue vessel, the rescue center said. After more than four hours, the Amidala made it back to shore.

In recent years, sailors have shared tips about how to stop orca rammings, or at the very least deter them. Deterrents include painting the hull a different color. Another tactic is to blast heavy metal music, or to scatter sand into the ocean. There’s also an app that tracks orca activity in the ocean, letting boats steer clear of pods.

Researchers have no definitive explanations about why orcas, seemingly in this region alone, are increasingly ramming ships. One theory suggests that the ramming stems from past traumatic encounters between orcas and boats. Some scientists think it may be simpler than that — as naturally curious and playful mammals, orcas may just be having some fun.

The other, new, theory comes from the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute in Spain, which has been tracking the orca ship rammings since 2020. It has found that orca pods off the coast of Spain, who migrate in the waters between North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, have developed a taste of Atlantic bluefin tuna, according to a paper the institute will publish next month.

That species of tuna can grow up to 10 feet long and move at speeds that orcas can’t always catch, at least not without training, said Bruno Díaz López, the institute’s chief biologist. Sailboats are often the ideal size to train on — they move quickly and silently, and close to the water’s surface, not unlike the orcas’ prey.

Researchers studying the ramming incidents have found that it is mostly young orcas who go after sailboats, but sometimes adults appear to be teaching younger members of the pod how to do so. The orcas have also figured out that the rudder is soft enough to bite, and that fiberglass makes for good ramming, Mr. Díaz López said.

“This is like a training toy,” Mr. Díaz López said. “It’s a shame that we humans are in the middle of this game, but they are learning.”

Lynsey Chutel covers South Africa and the countries that make up southern Africa from Johannesburg. More about Lynsey Chutel

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Boat Test: 2024 Jeanneau NC 895 Sport Series 2

• By Randy Vance
• August 26, 2024

Pocket cruisers are designed to be the “transformers” of the waterway, and Jeanneau ­expertly engineered its NC 895 Sport Series 2 to be Optimus Prime. It is unlikely there is a more carefully planned deck and berth space on any vessel in the new 895’s size class. That is immediately clear from the starboard boarding door to the cockpit. That spacious area is made more so by opening the three-panel sliding door to the salon, joining those areas with fresh sea air. All the salon side windows open as well, and as do two sliding-sunroof panes. And if the sea breeze isn’t cool enough, shut all the glass and run the air conditioner. It’s reversible to create heat on a frosty morning as well.

Interior and Accessories

In the cockpit, the aft lounge slides forward on rails to offer easy ­passage from the starboard side of the transom platform to the portside transom boarding door. Remove the couch cushions and rigid seatback to reveal that boarding option. Underway, the lounge slides aft to expand the cockpit. In the aft position, a lounge folds from the port gunwale to join the aft lounge, transforming the area into a conversation pit. It’s completed by an opposing cushioned bench seat against the slider, and the entire area converts to a sun pad by lowering a cocktail table, padded with cushions to match the seats.

Steps to the port and starboard catwalks to the bow are always ­accessible, and the starboard walkway is accessible from the helm for easy mooring. The narrower port catwalk leads to a triple lounge on the foredeck with an added cushion for seating or for kneeling to address the windlass. The starboard catwalk is wider, and the helm-station door opens to it, giving the singlehanded skipper snappy access to a midship cleat for making fast to the dock. 

If instead of going forward you aim for the salon, Optimus Prime is evident in the dinette with a folding cocktail table that can be lowered to lounge level to complete a third berth. Or leave the table in dinette position but fold the forward half back to the aft half, like closing a book, and the forward lounge seatback folds aft, transforming that to a companion seat for the skipper. Even the skipper’s techie seat swivels to face the salon, should the boat be at anchor. 

The galley also transforms from a compact sink and stove thanks to a removable panel that serves to extend the food-prep counter slightly into the cockpit through the sliding door. It’s welcome added space and connects in securely.

The three-panel sliding door separating the salon from the cockpit opens wide from starboard to port, making cockpit and salon one large gathering area. It’s optimal deck space with prime seating all around. 

Pretty fair competition for the NC 895 Sport Series 2 comes from Cutwater’s 288C ($339,937 base price). Comparable in length, beam and preferred power, the Cutwater offers a somewhat similar deck plan, with a convertible dinette in the salon and convertible aft lounge that folds away like a card trick to open the cockpit or give access to the transom platform. The Cutwater’s salon and forward berth offer comfortable accommodations, but instead of an aft stateroom berth, there’s a double berth tucked beneath the dinette on the salon deck. It’s ideal for kids or teens—perhaps a little cozier than Jeanneau’s more-spacious midberth below deck.

Both are best powered with a pair of ­Yamaha 250s with electric steering. The Helm Master EX joystick full maneuverability is an essential option, I think, and I would insist on the bow thruster too. With those tools, anyone can grease a boat in the tightest marina fearlessly. On plane, the power steering makes the vessel respond like a sportboat, and both vessels are comparable in displacement and will achieve speeds in the mid-40s with a light load.

When equipped with full ­maneuverability and ­Yamaha’s integrated autopilot through a Garmin GPS display, the autopilot can be addressed through the joystick, the GPS or a dedicated autopilot panel (a feature I’d omit as redundant). At 35 mph, the 895 boasts 150 miles of range using a safe 90 percent of its ­158-gallon fuel capacity. Gentle canal cruising at 5 mph will take you almost 300 miles. A 2-foot-3-inch motor-up draft means getting into the skinniest marinas or past numerous shoaled-in miles of the Great Loop.

Read Next: Jeanneau NC 1295 FLY

When cruising the Great Loop, there’s a spacious cabin below deck with a forward V-berth and a surprisingly spacious midship berth. Separated by doors, they provide comfortable privacy. The companionway to them is via three wide steps for easy footing; on the way down, you’ll pass the circuit panel. A galley includes a microwave, sink and fridge, plus ample storage for cruising supplies. Lockers under the V-berth and a hanging locker provide space to store clothing, but the bulk of the storage on board is found, not surprisingly, under a cockpit hatch, where a large compartment can hold supplies securely, keeping them dry and ready for use. 

With near-robotic autopilot controls, a ­vessel full of versatile transforming ­accommodations both topside and below, the ­Jeanneau NC 895 Sport Series 2 is the Optimus Prime in its class for ­cruisers.

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin Yamaha 250 outboards
• Drive/Props: Outboard/Saltwater Series II 15.5″ x 17″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 75 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 500 lb.

High Points

• Stand-up paddleboard and kayak racks on the roof double as handrails when ­traversing the gunwale passageways.
• The three-panel sliding windows open the entire salon to the cockpit.
• The convertible dinette seatback tilts aft to create a two-person lounge alongside the captain.
• The transom walkway is covered by the aft cockpit lounge seat. Passage there requires sliding the seat forward.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Jeanneau – Annapolis, Maryland; jeanneau.com

• More: 20-30ft , 2024 , boat tests , Boats , Cruising Boats , jeanneau , October 2024 , outboards

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Sailing Yachts For Sale

While they may be far outnumbered by their motor yacht peers, sailing yachts are unique in terms of regatta capabilities and eco-friendly performance. Most buyers of a sailing yacht for sale wouldn’t swap their bluewater cruisers or regatta winners for anything. After all, there's nothing quite like sipping ice-cold mojitos to the soundtrack of a sail flapping gently overhead.

That's why we have invited a mix of some of the most elegant, traditional, modern and enjoyable sailing yachts for sale to be showcased on BOAT – to help those aspiring owners to find their perfect match. Owning a sailing yacht comes with numerous benefits, freedom and flexibility to set sail whenever and wherever. Plus, the eco-friendly credentials never go out-of-date.

Here, we take a look at some of the standout sailing yachts for sale with BOAT International, including sailing yachts from legendary names such as Royal Huisman , Perini Navi , Nautor's Swan and Jongert .

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Three people injured as two boats collide on Pewaukee Lake

Three people were injured after two boats collided on Pewaukee Lake on Saturday morning.

At 10:15 a.m., the Pewaukee Lake Patrol investigated a crash involving two boats near Peterson Drive in the city of Pewaukee on the east side of the lake.

According to a news release from the village of Pewaukee Police Department, the sides of the boats hit each other as they tried to veer away from each other.

A 26-year-old man who was driving one of the boats and was the only person in that boat was treated at the scene, according to police. A 61-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman from the other boat were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

None of them was ejected from their boats, and alcohol is not thought to have been a factor, according to police. No citations have been issued; the incident is under investigation, according to village Police Chief Tim Heier.

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or [email protected]. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy.