Call this Mother Nature's sweet revenge or just an odd incident that happens without reason but – oddly enough – increased frequency: a pod of orcas attacked and ultimately sank a sailing yacht near the Strait of Gibraltar.
Grazie Mamma, a sailing yacht operated by Polish operator Morksie Mile, is no more. The sailing yacht, part of the company sail training fleet until October 31, sank near the Strait of Gibraltar after it was attacked by orcas. According to the operator, the pod of orcas went for the rudders of the vessel and, during their 45-minute assault, caused considerable damage and leakage.
The Moroccan Navy and local port tugs rushed to help out as Grazie Mamma was taking water, but by that point, it was well beyond saving. Everyone onboard was able to evacuate safely, and no one was injured, but not the same can be said about the vessel, which went under and is considered a total loss.
According to Morksie Mile, all memories created onboard Grazie Mamma "will be transferred" to Grazie Mamma II, which sounds like they already have a replacement on standby.
As for what prompted the orcas to attack the yacht, that's a question that not even scientists have been able to answer yet. Since 2020, such attacks have intensified. While they never resulted in human casualties, and there's clear indication that the giant mammals are not aiming for the humans onboard but the ships themselves, the spike in number is enough to warrant concern.
Photo: Morksie Mile
One possible theory for the attacks would be that the whales are just playing, and it seems supported by direct observation that the ships they go for are almost always under 15 meters (49 feet) in length and always underway. Grazie Mamma also fit that description, as a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 449 build with a LOA of 13 meters (42.6 feet).
Researchers also believe the perpetrators are always the same: three juveniles from the same pod. Youths having a bit of fun, if you will. Apparently, they slam into the rudders of the yachts just to watch them spin.
Another possible reason for the unprovoked aggression is more worrisome: since most attacks have occurred in the same general area, it could be that one such watercraft hit and hurt a whale at some point, and now its family members are seeking revenge. It's sort of like when the bad guys killed John Wick’s puppy, and he went HAM on them – but with whales and, obviously, no puppy.
Most such orca attacks would qualify as bumps and minor incidents, but there have been other cases in which the ship sank after taking too much damage. Grazie Mamma is not alone at the bottom of the Mediterranean, not that it's any consolation to the owners.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News