by On Thursday, a pod of orcas approached the Team JAJO boat during The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint in the Atlantic Ocean west of Gibraltar.
The orcas can be seen pushing against the sailboat and jostling the rudder in a video posted to the Ocean Race YouTube account.
The Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team of Denmark, VO65 class, is seen during the start of Stage 6 of the Ocean Race from Aarhus, Denmark to The Hague, Netherlands on June 8, 2023. (Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
“Twenty minutes ago we got hit by orcas,” JAJO team captain Jelmer van Beek said after the incident. “Three killer whales came right at us and started hitting the rudders. Awesome to see the killer whales, beautiful animals, but also a dangerous moment for us as a team. We took the sails off and slowed the boat down as fast as possible and luckily after a few attacks they were gone… It was a scary moment.”
KILLER WHALES DAMAGES VESSEL IN LATEST ATTACK OFF SPAIN
Mirpuri Trifork Racing also reported a encounter with orcasthe racing organization said in a news release.
Neither team reported damage to their boats or anyone on board.
The Imoca-class sailboat takes the start of the Ocean Race 2023 off Alicante, Spain, on January 15, 2023. (Jose Miguel Fernandez/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint is a new race that includes three different stages and four different cities.
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“This new trophy will allow a new generation of sailors, along with some familiar faces, to gain valuable experience in The Ocean Race,” said Phil Lawrence, The Ocean Race’s Director of Races.
“This format provides the opportunity to compete in The Ocean Race environment, with host city to host city racing along with in-port competitions. Participating VO65 teams will gain significant exposure to offshore racing.”
The WindWhisper Racing team from Poland, VO65 class, is seen during the start of Stage 6 of the Ocean Race from Aarhus, Denmark to The Hague, Netherlands on June 8, 2023. (Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
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The orca attack is the latest in a series of incidents in the coasts of spain and Portugal
Atlantic Orca Working Group reported 18 interactions of this type in the month of May in the region.
Julia Musto of Fox News contributed to this report.
