E39mad
Well-known member
A Lagoon was also attacked recently with a German couple on board in the same area. There's a video on Youtube about it. The mature Orca appear to be teaching the young Orca (calfs?) how to attack the rudder.
Orca attack
- Thread starter Sailfree
- Start date
wonkywinch
Well-known member
I understand local yachts carry a large can of anti orca liquid on their boats. Not very environmentally friendly but less damage than clearing a broken boat from the rocks. If your voyage is completed without orca attacks, the liquid can then be used to power your engine 
Blueboatman
Well-known member
I think playing lift music through underwater speakers would be worth a go too.
ashtead
Well-known member
I’m assuming the Bav is now sitting in barbate marina awaiting a replacement rudder etc.
Fr J Hackett
Well-known member
At least it's still got its keel.
ashtead
Well-known member
Orca only eat lead keels maybe.
Supine Being
Well-known member
I read this piece the other day: How Do You Keep Killer Whales Away From an Oil Spill? | response.restoration.noaa.gov
Based on that, I'm not sure whether fuel in the water will deter them, as such. On the other hand, sonic deterrents might have some value and won't pollute the environment.
Based on that, I'm not sure whether fuel in the water will deter them, as such. On the other hand, sonic deterrents might have some value and won't pollute the environment.
Graham376
Well-known member
Orca "repeatedly slammed" boat in spate of attacks Firecracker scared them off.
Maybe this thread should be attached to Orca Attack one on Liveaboard?
Maybe this thread should be attached to Orca Attack one on Liveaboard?
sailaboutvic
Well-known member
Not got much info but it sounds as if another boat been sunk ?
any one with any news .
any one with any news .
Roberto
Well-known member
Yes a 50' just off Barbate, there are pictures taken from the beach of the mast top coming out of the water
look at "salvamento maritimo" web site/facebook
RobbieW
Well-known member
See Orca Interaction and Uneventful Passage Report Results | CA report 125, slightly W of S from Barbate. Water ingress and boat sank. A friend of mine, delivering a Lagoon 45, had a 30 minute interaction near Tarifa last week, no damage. Seems theres been a lot of activity in the last couple of weeks around the Barbate area.
Stingo
Well-known member
Post in thread 'Orca off costa de luz' by Graham376 has been reported by Stingo. Reason given:
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sailaboutvic
Well-known member
Thanks Robbie , it’s not good and not getting any better
nortada
Well-known member
The orcas have an annual migration pattern (following the blue tuna) so attacks on boats tend to follow this pattern. Anticipate as the year progresses the attacks will also migrate around the Iberian coast and possibly further north.
Knowledge of this migration pattern could reduce the risk of contact with orcas.
ashtead
Well-known member
As posted recently I saw mention on the Bavaria owners website to rudder/damage/loss off Barbate. I seem to recall owner was Steve seeking a new rudder. Next week or so is annual Atun event there I believe
Rappey
Well-known member
That might be a problem ?
Migration: Although orcas tend to aggregate in cold water, they live in all the world's oceans, from the Antarctic to the tropics. Unlike other whales that follow predictable seasonal migration patterns, orcas tend to go wherever their food source is, making their movement patterns much less predictable.
stranded
Well-known member
But doesn’t their food follow predictable migration patterns, albeit changing ones as the oceans warm?
Wansworth
Well-known member
From the pictures I have seen orcas attack larger mammals like whales in a pack coming from behind gradually slowing the whale down so maybe whales although intelligent in their own way could be trying to slow a boat down but realize it’s not eatable
nortada
Well-known member
Wrapping may not be eatable but the contents is.
stranded
Well-known member
Sounds as plausible as any theory I have heard for why they started this behaviour. I suppose that from a orca point of view the rudder (and the keel - but that would be less fun) is the nearest thing on a boat to a whale’s fin. A lot of animal behaviour is reflexive rather than intellectual - guess that applies to Orcas too, so just a reflex hunting response? But they do seem to have a notable capacity to learn, eg the way some hunt seals on broken pack ice, so it would be surprising if they didn’t quickly learn that boats don’t taste good, yet they continue…
On the migration routes point, I was talking to a serious sports fisherman in Dartmouth a week or so ago who said that there are now “huge numbers” of big tuna off the coast of Cornwall and Devon each year - his biggest so far is c.800lb (estimated - he releases them but has a measuring scale on the side of his boat). He has just bought a bigger boat (! - but true) with twin whopper engines which can do 65mph+ (he wimped out before exploring the absolute max.) so that he can quickly get to where the big fish have been sighted. So would be almost surprising if the orca don’t follow…