Orcas Attack Sailboat Off Northwestern Spain

A pod of orcas rammed the sailboat Amidala off the coast of northwestern Spain, damaging its rudder and leading to a complicated rescue operation. The incident, which left one crew member with a serious hand injury, is part of a troubling trend of orca attacks on vessels in the Iberian Peninsula that has been observed since 2020. The Belgian couple aboard sent a distress call to the Spanish maritime rescue service, which faced challenging weather conditions with high waves and strong winds while towing the damaged boat back to shore. The orcas' motivations remain unclear, with theories ranging from hunting practice to potential aggression toward humans. This incident highlights growing concerns for sailors navigating these waters, especially following previous attacks that resulted in sunken vessels. The Amidala was successfully towed ashore after a lengthy rescue operation lasting over five hours.