OK, you're happily sailing along in your catamaran when suddenly a pod of orcas appears from nowhere, taking an interest in your boat. After the initial thrill and euphoria of sighting this group of whales for the first time, that thrill quickly turns to fear as they start munching on your home and prize possession — starting with your rudders.
It sounds like something out of a Hitchcock or Spielberg movie — or Sharknado 5 — but this is far from fiction.
While walking around Alcaidesa Marina in La Línea, mainland Spain, a couple of years ago, speaking to cat owners, I met Michel, owner of the lovely Nautitech 46 Open Archadia 2. He was looking forlornly at his two rudders — or rather, one half-eaten rudder and one bare rudder stock, after experiencing such an attack.
The Mystery of the Orca Attacks
This wasn't the only catamaran damaged by orcas in the marina at the time — two others, plus a monohull, all had damaged rudders. Why does it suddenly seem that catamarans are becoming a tasty snack for orcas, or to give them their more sinister title, killer whales?
It's not only happening to catamarans — a few monohulls have had their rudders nibbled too — but catamarans do seem to be the predominant meal of choice for these big ocean predators.
Are There Any Solutions?
If you have any ideas, we — and the owners — would be grateful to hear them.
We've been sitting around brainstorming ideas:
- Maybe some kind of electric charge applied to the rudders
- Poking the thing in the eye with a well-aimed boathook
- A quick jab with a dinghy oar
Then again, maybe that's not such a good idea when you're annoying a 500kg orca.
I'm making light of it, but this is becoming a serious problem along the Portuguese coastline, apparently. I'm not sure if it's localised, down to a solitary pod, or if it's becoming more of a global problem.
If these guys start telling each other that catamarans taste like chocolate-covered doughnuts, this problem is only going to get worse.
Are there any oceanographers or scientists out there doing a study on this? Is it another Bermuda Triangle mystery? Or are Fountaine Pajot and Lagoon secretly training these intelligent mammals to only eat Nautitechs?
But seriously, these attacks are becoming more and more of a problem cruising along the Portuguese coastline, right up to the Straits of Gibraltar and beyond. There are a number of ultrasonic deterrents on the market, and it would be interesting to know if they actually work.
We may never know, but it's a real concern — and if you find a group of these 5-tonne monsters sniffing around your boat, be aware: you're on the menu.
I wrote this a couple of years ago now, but the problem hasn't eased. If anything, reports of these attacks seem to be becoming more and more frequent.
Maybe it's time to put Willy back in his cage.
Update — 24 July 2026
I've just updated this post — coincidentally, the Daily Express reported another three orca attacks just last week.
According to the Daily Express (24 July 2026), orcas sank a yacht off Spain's north-west coast after ramming three other vessels in the same stretch of water. The pleasure craft Idem lost its rudder and began taking on water about a mile off Estaca de Bares, the northernmost point of Galicia, before eventually sinking.
A nearby private boat tried to tow the stricken yacht ashore; the Spanish coastguard then ferried the two people on board to the nearby town of Cariño, unhurt, while a helicopter checked the area for pollution. Local mayor Alfredo Dovale confirmed the incident.
Three other sailboats were targeted in the same waters that day — two reached port despite rudder damage, while the third was left disabled. As the Express notes, experts still aren't sure why orcas target boats; it may come down to “playfulness” or the animals perceiving the vessels as a threat.
Source: Daily Express (Facebook, 24 July 2026)