Navigating ‘Orca Alley’.

Sailors navigating the Atlantic Iberian coast are facing a new challenge with the presence of orcas, also known as killer whales. These encounters have resulted in damage to numerous vessels and the sinking of several boats. A sub-group of about 15 orcas has learned and passed on the behavior of bumping into boats and touching their rudders. These interactions are more common between June and September, and sailors are advised to stay in shallower waters and close to the shore to minimize the risk. The Cruising Association is working with marine scientists to collect and share data on the orcas' movements, and resources are available to help sailors avoid these encounters. The Spanish and Portuguese governments are also providing advice and information to sailors, and a new acoustic deterrent device is being tested as a potential solution. The article includes a personal account of a family's encounter with orcas, where their boat was repeatedly rammed, causing damage and disabling the boat. The family eventually reached a port for repairs. The author does not take a position on whether the orcas' behavior was playful or aggressive. [Extracted from the article]