Orca attack

[Kelpie]

This website, 2021 by months | Orca iberica, gives a good idea of where by day but not by time

It also says that 80% of the attacks in October have occurred at night. Recommendations | Orca iberica

 

[greeny]

An old interaction but just being reported it seems. Dates back to May this year.
Orca Attack Reporting (+ other Orca encounters) | Hi everyone I have joined the group recently and would like to share my experience with Orcas in Spain It was in May 2021 After crossed strait of Gibraltar bound to Cadiz we were 8 miles from the coast abeam Barbate when they came ( apparently 8 to 10 ) and started hitting the rudder We lowered the sails and turned off engine and instruments but They didn’t stop it and continued hitting for approximately 35 min Luckily Spanish coast guard was passing along the path and we called them on channel 16 When the big boat approached the Orcas left us maybe because of noise of engines Then we continued motoring to Cadiz No rudder damage But honestly What a scary moment

It seems the loud engines from the coast guard vessel caused them to break off the encounter.

 

[Graham376]

Earlier in the week national TV reported 50+ interactions with boats of all types (leisure and fishing) in Portuguese waters so far this year.

 

[Kelpie]

Not an attack/interaction but a pod of 5-6 was sighted close in shore at the beach here in Lagos today. Presumably the southern pod who have been working their way down the coast.

 

[webcraft]

Not an attack/interaction but a pod of 5-6 was sighted close in shore at the beach here in Lagos today. Presumably the southern pod who have been working their way down the coast.

Well, we won't be leaving here until they are reported a bit further away!

- W

 

[25931]

Not an attack/interaction but a pod of 5-6 was sighted close in shore at the beach here in Lagos today. Presumably the southern pod who have been working their way down the coast.

Any tourist boats offering trips ?

 

[nortada]

Well, we won't be leaving here until they are reported a bit further away!

- W

It will be interesting to see what short/long term impact this will have on sail in Iberia and the boat trip trade - it could become the last straw??

 

[cherod]

would the " trade " boats not just move up a size or two . ( i remember someone on here a while ago ( this thread ) claiming that the trip boats are all big anyway )

 

[capnsensible]

would the " trade " boats not just move up a size or two . ( i remember someone on here a while ago ( this thread ) claiming that the trip boats are all big anyway )

Sometimes people just have to get out from behind their sofas and stop reading all the scare mongering, don't you think?

??

 

[greeny]

would the " trade " boats not just move up a size or two . ( i remember someone on here a while ago ( this thread ) claiming that the trip boats are all big anyway )

The trade boats probably don't need to change anything.
Trip boats generally stay close inshore to visit the caves and beaches. Many of them are only circa 20ft and carry maybe 6 pax. The next size are often old fishing boats or similar that again stay close inshore. They can carry maybe 30/40 pax. There's also a few motorised cats that carry 20 /30 or so. The boats that go more offshore are the "Dolphin boats". Often 10 m plus Ribs that carry maybe 20 pax. They are fast enough to stay out of the way of orcas and don't have the attraction of a spade type rudder.

 

[Kelpie]

Another incident near Cascais today:
Auxiliados dois tripulantes de veleiro após interação com orcas ao largo de Sintra

Translation:
Two sailboat crew helped after interaction with orcas off Sintra
02 NOV 2021
The elements of the Cascais Lifeguard Station helped, during the early hours of today, two people, 49 and 51 years old and of English nationality, who were on board a sailboat that, after an interaction with orcas, became adrift, four nautical miles (about seven kilometres) from the beach of São Julião, in Sintra.
Following an alert received at 04h13, through the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre of Lisbon (MRCC Lisbon), elements of the Cascais Lifeguard Station were immediately activated to the scene.
Upon arrival at the yacht, the elements of the Lifeboat Rescue Station found that the two crew members were physically well and proceeded to tow the yacht to the Cascais marina, for safety reasons for navigation.

 

[Zing]

Y

Sometimes people just have to get out from behind their sofas and stop reading all the scare mongering, don't you think?

??

Indeed. It’s a lot like Covid. Live life, or cower in fear behind sealed doors, sanitised hands and gas masks in public.

 

[Mistroma]

I see the official advice in the report is still to turn the engine off, lock the helm and wait. I'd expect most people to at least try transitioning to reverse if the opportunity arises before initial physical contact. It seems more likely to work as it makes an approach to the rudder more difficult.

 

[Graham376]

Y

Indeed. It’s a lot like Covid. Live life, or cower in fear behind sealed doors, sanitised hands and gas masks in public.

We hear of the incidents but not about the thousands of boats who've been out sailing up and down the coast during the year without problems.

 

[nortada]

Not an attack/interaction but a pod of 5-6 was sighted close in shore at the beach here in Lagos today. Presumably the southern pod who have been working their way down the coast.

Apparently a false alarm, these Orcas have been confirmed, by more than on source, to have been dolphins.??

 

[25931]

Apparently a false alarm, these Orcas have been confirmed, by more than on source, to have been dolphins.??

Orcas are dolphins.

 

[nortada]

Orcas are dolphins.

But not all dolphins are Orcas.

 

[newtothis]

Y

Indeed. It’s a lot like Covid. Live life, or cower in fear behind sealed doors, sanitised hands and gas masks in public.

Yeah, science, who needs it, man?

 

[25931]

But not all dolphins are Orcas.

I suspect that many people don't know the difference and don't want to get close enough even if they do.

 

[capnsensible]

Y

Indeed. It’s a lot like Covid. Live life, or cower in fear behind sealed doors, sanitised hands and gas masks in public.

Why do you do that? You should get out, wear a mask as appropriate, use sanitising and maintain social distancing. Be careful though of those that don't. You can most definitely still catch it.