![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/moment-pod-of-five-orcas-attack-30ft-yacht-as-terrified-sailor-sends-out-mayday-call/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/0_sailor-captures-1048181.jpg&description=Experienced yachtman Phep Philouceros says he was followed by a five-strong pod of orcas as he sailed just off the coast of Cape Vincent in Portugal bound for Royan, France A sailor was left fearing for his life after the rudder of his boat was ripped off by huge killer whales and he was forced to broadcast a mayday distress call. Experienced yachtman Phep Philouceros says he was followed by a five-strong pod of orcas as he sailed just off the coast of Cape Vincent in Portugal bound for Royan, France, on Monday. In a terrifying attack, part of which Phep caught on video, two of the huge creatures peeled off and started attacking his 30-foot yacht. One can been seen 'stalking' the yacht and attacking the rudder, which was destroyed "in one minute", forcing Phep to send out the mayday - which sailors only use in extreme circumstances. The 70-year-old said he also heard the hull of the boat crack but didn't noticed any water coming in. Frenchman Phep was sailing 400 metres south of the cape in around 25 metres of water. Within 15 minutes of the incident a rescue boat had reached his location but even then the attack didn't stop. For another half an hour orcas continued to attack even as Phep's twin-keel boat called Oxygene was being towed back to the shore. Phep, who is retired, is an experienced navigator and has been at sea for the last few months after leaving Gruissan in France three months ago. He said he knew there had been reported orca sightings in the area so before he set sail from Sagres he checked an app which lists recent orca encounters. He said: "I use an app called Orca Atlantica which lists orca encounters in the area and I also listen to what local authorities are advising. After leaving Lagos and before reaching Cape St. Vincent, I stopped in Sagres to check the latest news on the app. There hadn't been any sightings of orcas that day so I went ahead but unfortunately I wasn't lucky." By the time Phep spotted in orcas near his sailboat, it was alread){kind=link}
Experienced yachtman Phep Philouceros says he was followed by a five-strong pod of orcas as he sailed just off the coast of Cape Vincent in Portugal bound for Royan, France
A sailor was left fearing for his life after the rudder of his boat was ripped off by huge killer whales and he was forced to broadcast a mayday distress call.
Experienced yachtman Phep Philouceros says he was followed by a five-strong pod of orcas as he sailed just off the coast of Cape Vincent in Portugal bound for Royan, France, on Monday. In a terrifying attack, part of which Phep caught on video, two of the huge creatures peeled off and started attacking his 30-foot yacht.
One can been seen ‘stalking’ the yacht and attacking the rudder, which was destroyed “in one minute”, forcing Phep to send out the mayday – which sailors only use in extreme circumstances. The 70-year-old said he also heard the hull of the boat crack but didn’t noticed any water coming in.
Frenchman Phep was sailing 400 metres south of the cape in around 25 metres of water. Within 15 minutes of the incident a rescue boat had reached his location but even then the attack didn’t stop. For another half an hour orcas continued to attack even as Phep’s twin-keel boat called Oxygene was being towed back to the shore.