Orcas Damage Sailboat Off Peniche Coast

In a recent incident, a sailboat was left without a rudder off the coast of Peniche on Thursday afternoon, marking another episode in a series of orca interactions along the Portuguese shoreline. Despite the damage to the vessel, all crew members were unharmed and did not require medical assistance.

According to a statement from the National Maritime Authority (AMN), the event occurred approximately six kilometers from the port of Peniche. The alert was raised at 14:27, and rescue teams from the Peniche Lifeboat Station were immediately dispatched to the scene.

The individuals on board were reported to be in good physical condition. The sailboat, however, sustained significant damage to its rudder and will need to undergo an inspection before it can resume navigation.

This is not an isolated case. In recent days, similar incidents have been reported: a sailboat sank off Costa da Caparica due to orca interactions, another was put at risk, and two different vessels required assistance from authorities in Cascais and Fonte da Telha.

Over the past few years, hundreds of incidents involving orcas have been documented along the Portuguese coast. Some experts suggest that this behavior may be linked to play or socialization among the orcas, rather than aggression.

For more insights, read: Why are orcas attacking boats: are they scared or just playing?