Orcas sink $128K yacht in Mediterranean attack: 'Like watching wolves hunt'

A yacht valued at $128,680 was sunk by a pod of killer whales during a two-hour attack in the Mediterranean Sea. The incident occurred while Robert Powell and his crew were on a 10-day sailing trip from Vilamoura, Portugal, to Greece, just 22 hours into their journey. Powell described the attack as "terrifying," noting that the orcas seemed to know exactly how to target the boat's weak points. The pod of five orcas first disabled the yacht's rudder, rendering it unable to steer, before systematically damaging the hull. Despite attempts to deter the whales, including dropping firecrackers and turning off the engine, the orcas continued their assault. After about an hour and a half, the hull buckled, allowing water to flood the living area. The crew managed to call for help, and a Spanish salvage vessel arrived just minutes before the yacht sank 130 feet below the surface. Powell expressed concern that this group of orcas might be responsible for similar attacks on other vessels in recent years, suggesting they could be targeting boats for fun. He warned that the ongoing interactions between humans and orcas could escalate, potentially leading to dangerous encounters.