Two orca incidents reported in one day off Portuguese coast

A sailing yacht has sunk off the coast of Portugal after an encounter with a pod of orca. The incident occurred last Saturday (13 September 2025), around five miles from Fonte de Telha beach.

According to the National Maritime Authority, the boat belonged to the Nautic Squad club. Named Oceanview, the boat came under repeated impact from orcas striking the hull. It was carrying five people, all of whom were safely rescued by another Nautic Squad club vessel before Oceanview sank.

Footage (below) from the scene, captured by the sailing company Mercedes-Benz Oceanic Lounge’s vessel out on a dolphin-watching trip, shows the orca colliding with the side of the yacht, leading to its sinking. 

Later the same day, around 12 miles northeast of the Bay of Cascais, a second encounter was recorded. On this occasion, four people required assistance from the Cascais lifeguard station after it is believed the same pod approached the vessel. 

According to orcas.pt – a website tracking orca in Portugal and Spain – there have been five other orca attacks that have occurred earlier this month already.

The event follows a series of similar incidents previously reported by MIN, with scientists continuing to investigate the behaviour of orca pods.