A startling encounter unfolded off the coast of Gibraltar when a group of explorers found their yacht surrounded by a pod of orcas for three hours. The orcas—often referred to as ‘killer whales’—repeatedly struck the vessel, severely damaging its steering system and forcing it into uncontrolled 360-degree spins. The dramatic incident was captured on video from both underwater and deck angles.
A Transatlantic Journey Interrupted
The crew was returning to Europe after a four-week voyage from the Bahamas to Spain when they were suddenly confronted by the orca pod near Gibraltar. French cinematographer Alex Aimard filmed underwater footage showing the orcas circling the yacht while passengers lost all control of the vessel. Deck footage shows the animals chasing the boat at speed, leaping in and out of the waves with striking agility.
Chaos on Board
In the video, the yacht’s helm spins uncontrollably as the orcas disable the steering mechanism. Pieces of the rudder float on the water’s surface. Norwegian skydiver Jøke Somer is heard saying in one clip: ‘They’ve destroyed everything—we no longer have steering.’ Moments later, he adds with dark humor: ‘Now we’re spinning 360 degrees—we’re having so much fun.’ A female passenger exclaims, ‘My God, they’re enormous!’
Reflections After the Encounter
Somer later described the experience on Instagram, writing: ‘After four weeks sailing from the Bahamas, the famous Iberian orca pod gave us a warm welcome back to Europe—known for sinking yachts and destroying rudders off Gibraltar’s coast.’ He emphasized that the event lasted far longer than the edited video suggests: ‘This carousel is just three minutes from a three-hour encounter.’ He noted that viewers don’t see the initial impact that shattered the rudder, the distress calls (mayday), preparations for evacuation due to possible hull breach, or attempts to use the engine to deter the orcas.
Somer clarified that the orcas showed no overt aggression—except when the engine was engaged. ‘While the yacht drifted silently, the orcas were only playful and curious,’ he wrote. ‘Some toyed with the steering gear, others spun the boat—and the calves played with the debris floating in the water.’