A pod of orcas damaged the rudder of a sailboat, leaving its two-person crew stranded in the waters off Cape Finisterre Sunday, according to an emailed statement from the rescue workers.
Researchers still do not know whether the attacks are playful or malicious, but a new theory... suggests that they could be using the boats as practice targets for new hunting techniques.
Regardless of the orcas' intentions, the behavior is enough to worry sailors journeying in the highly trafficked waters around North Africa, Spain and Portugal.
The sailboat's damaged rudder, and poor weather conditions in the area, made the rescue more arduous, with waves reaching up to nearly 10 feet and winds hitting speeds of 40 miles per hour.
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