Orcas, Portugal and Unexpected Inspections

[Kelpie]

Glad to see you are safe and the boat is tied up alongside.

2-3 boats a day being attacked that is crazy, Sailors in the port there must have a view or idea as to why this is happening ?

If it really is 2-3 boats a day then the problem is being vastly under-reported, at least according to orcaiberica.org which is as close as we have to a central database of these incidents. Their "latest interactions" page shows an attack every four days or so.

 

[zoidberg]

Perhaps we need John Wlliams to write an epic theme and someone to make us an 'Orca' movie to accompany it...?

 

[shan]

Whatever.
We all create our own reality.

I think your 'reality' would be a wee bit different had it happened to you.

 

[cimota]

If I was in your shoes the video would need to have been dubbed over?? extensively....

I am curious, did they actually bite the rudder, or did they just slap it, till it broke apart..

They were biting. I liken them to dogs vying for the same treat.

 

[pandos]

They were biting. I liken them to dogs vying for the same treat.

Thats amazing. You gotta wonder how much fiberglass an orca can eat before he gets sick or dead or goes looking for something tasty...

Best of luck, presume you are headed to Almerimar...great place...I go there every chance I get...(unfortunately not too many oppertunities lately)

Take care.

 

[cimota]

Thats amazing. You gotta wonder how much fiberglass an orca can eat before he gets sick or dead or goes looking for something tasty....

They weren’t eating. I don’t think I captured it but they paraded around the boat with pieces of rudder on their foreheads. Like trophies.

 

[Poey50]

There's a very recent report on the Cruisers Forum of someone managing two consecutive attacks on the same trip, on each occasion escaping any damage. The engine was put in reverse and they motored backwards at 2-3 knots. I don't know why it worked for them but I'm remembering once seeing a very fierce Alsatian chase down and corner a kitten. I thought it was done for but when the kitten turned and faced it and lashed out the dog had to reverse. It didn't know what to do, and soon gave up. I have heard that Orcas don't have a reverse gear.

 

[cimota]

There's a very recent report on the Cruisers Forum of someone managing two consecutive attacks on the same trip, on each occasion escaping any damage. The engine was put in reverse and they motored backwards at 2-3 knots. I don't know why it worked for them but I'm remembering once seeing a very fierce Alsatian chase down and corner a kitten. I thought it was done for but when the kitten turned and faced it and lashed out the dog had to reverse. It didn't know what to do, and soon gave up. I have heard that Orcas don't have a reverse gear.

We had some theories....

Drop a red ball fender off the stern, go in reverse, spill some diesel off the back....

...all kinda went to crap in the first couple of minutes while we just held on. The big two were battering the boat, spinning it like a toy.

 

[sailaboutvic]

There's a very recent report on the Cruisers Forum of someone managing two consecutive attacks on the same trip, on each occasion escaping any damage. The engine was put in reverse and they motored backwards at 2-3 knots. I don't know why it worked for them but I'm remembering once seeing a very fierce Alsatian chase down and corner a kitten. I thought it was done for but when the kitten turned and faced it and lashed out the dog had to reverse. It didn't know what to do, and soon gave up. I have heard that Orcas don't have a reverse gear.

I'm a dog lover but also had cat we sailed for many years with both on board , I can tell you once the chase stop and the cat goes on the defends dogs don't like it .
A cat will take a dog eye out in less then a second .
Ok sorry for the thread diff

 

[sailaboutvic]

We had some theories....

Drop a red ball fender off the stern, go in reverse, spill some diesel off the back....

...all kinda went to crap in the first couple of minutes while we just held on. The big two were battering the boat, spinning it like a toy.

First sorry to hear you been attack I hope you get it sorted and on your way again .

I can clearly understand having a plain in mine but once the attack happen not having the time to deploy it ,
We haven't sailed that part for some years but after everything I read and the one person we know that had a problem ,
I be keeping one thing in mind , go in astern , so far it seen its the only thing that possibly works ,
as you experience your self , lie in dead in the water just don't work .

I'm interesting to know did you tighten the lock on the wheel making it not so easy for them to freely spin the rudder or just leave it loose ?

As for them arm chairs sailors or have comment here and on other posting hundreds of miles away from this problem who think cruisers should just put up with it ,
I lay a pound to a penny that if it was happening on your door step you soon charge your view .

 

[LONG_KEELER]

It's outrageous that an animal in it's natural environment is around when you happen to be sailing in that particular spot of the ocean. Why don't you all carry shotguns and just blast the hell out of them and anything else that may inconvenience you. Perhaps Including the so called Grifters as have been mentioned.

If I'm going to go, I would consider it an honour to be snuffed out by a group of Orcas . I made the choice to be there.

 

[shan]

It's outrageous that an animal in it's natural environment is around when you happen to be sailing in that particular spot of the ocean. Why don't you all carry shotguns and just blast the hell out of them and anything else that may inconvenience you. Perhaps Including the so called Grifters as have been mentioned.

If I'm going to go, I would consider it an honour to be snuffed out by a group of Orcas . I made the choice to be there.

Perhaps, you could abandon the faux outrage for a minute? Of course the Orcas have the right to be wherever the hell they want but at the same time, sailers have the right to feel peeved about having their rudder chewed off and their boat smacked about. I know I would be peeved. It's perfectly natural to have a rant about things that annoy us - it doesn't mean we are all going to strap on our AK47s and go blast the shit out of everything.

Tell me something, if your grandchildren/children/ young nieces or nephews were on a boat that got smacked about and chewed, would you be honoured for them to snuff it too?

The point is - a practical solution does need to be found, which works for both Orcas and Boaters because if a solution is not found, people will take matters into their own hands and "just blast the hell out of them".

 

[Stemar]

Perhaps, you could abandon the faux outrage for a minute? Of course the Orcas have the right to be wherever the hell they want but at the same time, sailers have the right to feel peeved about having their rudder chewed off and their boat smacked about. I know I would be peeved. It's perfectly natural to have a rant about things that annoy us - it doesn't mean we are all going to strap on our AK47s and go blast the shit out of everything.

Tell me something, if your grandchildren/children/ young nieces or nephews were on a boat that got smacked about and chewed, would you be honoured for them to snuff it too?

The point is - a practical solution does need to be found, which works for both Orcas and Boaters because if a solution is not found, people will take matters into their own hands and "just blast the hell out of them".

The thing is, it isn't normal behaviour for orcas. One could speculate for hours on how and why it started, but the fact remains that it's a small number of rogue animals who've decided it's fun to chew boats, and the rudder's the easiest bit to chew. If that behaviour goes unchecked, there's a risk of it spreading. Orcas are protected, but the removal of a few troublesome individuals from that area isn't going to damage the survival prospects of the species, but might enhance those of passing yotties. Of course that's easy to say, but a lot harder to do.

One question, The chewed rudders I've seen have all been spades. Are rudders on long keels or skegs also being attacked?

Yes I know the orcas are probably playing, rather than attacking, but those on the receiving end can't tell the difference.

 

[shan]

The thing is, it isn't normal behaviour for orcas. One could speculate for hours on how and why it started, but the fact remains that it's a small number of rogue animals who've decided it's fun to chew boats, and the rudder's the easiest bit to chew. If that behaviour goes unchecked, there's a risk of it spreading. Orcas are protected, but the removal of a few troublesome individuals from that area isn't going to damage the survival prospects of the species, but might enhance those of passing yotties. Of course that's easy to say, but a lot harder to do.

One question, The chewed rudders I've seen have all been spades. Are rudders on long keels or skegs also being attacked?

Yes I know the orcas are probably playing, rather than attacking, but those on the receiving end can't tell the difference.

I'm aware of that but I also think that if they learned that behaviour, it means they can learn not to do it too. I'm sure there are people that are much brighter than me who are probably studying their behaviour in the hope of suggesting practical solutions to change it.... well, I hope there are anyway.

 

[Tradewinds]

One question, The chewed rudders I've seen have all been spades. Are rudders on long keels or skegs also being attacked?

Yes I know the orcas are probably playing, rather than attacking, but those on the receiving end can't tell the difference.

Yes Nauticat off Sines for one

 

[sailaboutvic]

Scariest part to this how long will it be before they think ram in a boat would be fun .
To me any way the so call expert don't seem to have the foggiest how to stop it .

 

[shan]

Scariest part to this how long will it be before they think ram in a boat would be fun .
To me any way the so call expert don't seem to have the foggiest how to stop it .

I doubt any solution will be found quickly.

 

[Graham376]

I doubt any solution will be found quickly.

There are solutions but we're not allowed to possess them, maybe DIY version could be fun to make - CTS Flash-Bangs & Sting-Ball Grenades - Combined Systems

 

[shan]

There are solutions but we're not allowed to possess them, maybe DIY version could be fun to make - CTS Flash-Bangs & Sting-Ball Grenades - Combined Systems

I was hoping for something a little less dramatic.

 

[pandos]

Scariest part to this how long will it be before they think ram in a boat would be fun .
To me any way the so call expert don't seem to have the foggiest how to stop it .

This is true...if it is errant behavior that is nipped in the bud, then there is a chance that it will not escalate but as things stand it looks like it will become the new norm for many Orcas...

Personally I'd be happy with offering them some counselling and trying to identify if they had any issues in childhood or suffered anxiety etc and as a second option maybe try depth charges, ?