Orca Uprising: Why did killer whales target racing yachts during The Ocean Race?

During 2023, we witnessed large pods of orcas ramming and sinking ships off the coast of Gibraltar. They would precisly target ship keels and rudders in order to disable the vessle! Two racing yatchs were attacked by the killer whales during The Ocean Race, but why?

Such aquatic violence has puzzled scientists, who have undergone multiple studies to try and understand the behavioral patterns of the ocean's top apex predator. According to Live Science, many scientists believe the attacks stem from a traumatized orca, seeking 'revenge'.

The pods of orcas off the coast of Portugal and Spain have become the new pirates of the Strait of Gibraltar, terrifying sailors all along the coast. During The Ocean Race, the orcas attacked the JAJO sailing team and Mirpuri Trifork Racing!

The attacks consist of pods of orcas ramming into hulls, completely disabling the vessel. According to Lopez Fernandez, a biologist at the Univerity of Aveiro in Portugal, "the reports of interactions have been continuous since 2020 in places where orcas are found, either in Galicia or in the Straight. In more than 500 interactions events recorded in 2022 there are three sunken ships."

The Spanish Coast Guard has recorded 54 incidents, and 13 of those attacks caused considerable damage. Data shows that 90% of the attacks target sailboats, and the theory beyond this is like something straight out of a Hitchcock film.

Both the JAJO Team and the Mirpuri Trifork Racing team used the same sailboats during the 2023 race, a VO65 model specifically built for The Ocean Race Sprint. The race aimed to circumnavigate the globe, starting off in Alicante and ending in The Hague.

Both sailing teams were intercepted by the pods of orcas roaming around the Straight of Gibraltar. Jelmer van Beek, captain of the JAJO team, described the situation as "absolutely terrifying, three orcas came directly towards us and began hitting the vessel. They targeted the hull and the rudder...It's incredible to see such beautiful animals turn into such a threat to the boat and the team", ESPN reported.

Van Beek decided to cut sails and drastically reduce the speed of the ship. After a series of coordinated charges aimed at the hull, the pod of orcas disappeared into the ocean blue.

Thankfully, both sailing teams suffered only minor damages and could continue with The Ocean Race, clocking in a good time at the end of the race.

The possible explanations for why, though, aren't as clear-cut as orcas wanting to take down billionaire boats...What is their motive? Who is behind this gang of killer whales?

Since the start of 2023, there has been an increased number of orcas roaming around the Atlantic. The online publication, Marine Mammal Science believes these strange behaviors are related to past traumas with boats. The orcas were either hit by the hull or felt distress due to the electric machinery onboard the vessel.

According to National Geographic, since 2020, there have been a total of 744 interactions off the North African coast up to the UK. 505 of said interactions are labeled "attacks", only 19.9% of all orca attacks cause serious damages.

The leader behind this aquatic gang is an orca named Gladys, a traumatized killer whale who leads a pod of 15 members. Scientists believe she is showing the juvenile orcas how to coordinate attacks and sink yachts!

Killer whales are known for their incredible intelligence and 'child-like' curiosity. Orcas are known to casually play with each other for leisure, they often play with their prey as well. One of the ocean's top apex predators, they rule the seas!

Scientists are wondering if the recent attacks off the coast of Scotland's Shetland Islands are correlated, this first-ever attack in that area... Maybe Gladys' distant Scottish cousins! Everyone on social media is choosing a side, "team Orca" or "team Yacht", what side are you on?