In a jaw-dropping maritime incident, a Mediterranean sailing adventure turned into a nightmare for 59-year-old Robert Powell when his $128,000 yacht was ruthlessly sunk by a pack of killer whales. The attack, which lasted nearly two hours, occurred less than a day into Powell’s planned 10-day voyage from Portugal to Greece.
Powell, who had embarked on the trip to celebrate his birthday, was stunned by the calculated nature of the orca assault. “These whales were not just playing around; they knew exactly what they were doing,” Powell recounted. “They targeted the weak points of the boat with a clear intention to sink it. There was no mistaking their purpose.”
The ordeal began around 8 p.m., when Powell’s yacht was surrounded by five orcas. The initial impact, which Powell initially thought might have been a submerged rock, quickly escalated as the orcas began their relentless attack. “As I was looking around the boat, trying to figure out what was happening, it got hit again,” Powell explained. “On the second hit, I saw the dark shape of a killer whale in the water, and that’s when I realized we were under attack.”
The orcas focused their assault on the yacht’s rudder, rendering the vessel uncontrollable. As the attack intensified, the killer whales targeted the keel and stern, circling the yacht in what Powell described as a strategic hunt. “It was like watching wolves hunt,” Powell said. “They took turns attacking, sometimes two at a time. It was incredibly terrifying.”
Despite Powell’s desperate attempts to fend off the orcas—including dropping firecrackers into the water—the sea predators persisted in their assault. After about an hour and a half, the yacht’s hull succumbed to the damage and began taking on water. Luckily, a nearby salvage ship came to Powell’s rescue just in time, preventing a total loss.
“The violence of the attack was truly shocking,” Powell said. “I have a feeling this group of orcas knew exactly what they were doing. They seem to be boat sinkers by design.”
This alarming incident is not an isolated event. Recent reports indicate that orcas have increasingly targeted boats in European waters over the past few years. Powell expressed his concern that tensions between humans and these formidable sea creatures could escalate. “It’s only a matter of time before someone decides to shoot one of these killer whales,” he warned. “The fight between man and beast is bound to get worse. Fortunately, none of us were in the water or injured, but it’s a gamble whether or not you’re hit.”
For those interested in seeing the harrowing footage of this unprecedented maritime attack, watch below:
