By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR
Published: 20:28 BST, 1 September 2026 | Updated: 21:06 BST, 1 September 2026
A pod of killer whales launched a terrifying eight-minute attack on a sailboat off Spain, tearing away half its rudder and forcing the crew to check for leaks.
Dramatic new video shows the orcas circling the vessel before repeatedly slamming into its steering system beneath the water.
Between three and four whales targeted the boat as it returned from a sailing competition near San Vicente.
The crew initially feared the animals may have damaged the hull and allowed water to pour inside.
Crew member Gage Butler, originally from California, said his adrenaline surged as they inspected the vessel in the aftermath.
‘It was so cool to see how smart these animals are and how they play and hunt as a pod,' he shared in an Instagram post.
'But at the same time my adrenaline was pumping while we were investigating the boat to see if we had any leaks in the hull.'
Butler said everyone escaped unharmed and the boat suffered no major damage beyond losing approximately half its rudder.
A pod of killer whales launched a terrifying eight-minute attack on a sailboat off Spain , tearing away half its rudder and forcing the crew to check for leaks
Gage Butler, from California, captured the attack, with footage showing the whales swimming under the boat
Butler and the Seika Racing sailing crew had just completed a regatta and were moving the boat from San Vicente to another marina when the orcas appeared.
Video shared on Instagram shows the animals surfacing beside the vessel while crew members watch from above.
The whales repeatedly swam beneath the stern, where the rudder controls the boat’s direction.
