Several orcas damaged a sailing yacht’s rudder on Saturday evening, 29 August 2026, in the Ría de Pontevedra . According to consistent reports, the animals repeatedly struck the stern of the approximately 13-metre Seika and disabled its rudder. The five people on board were unharmed. The yacht made its way into port under its own power; no intervention by Salvamento Marítimo was necessary.
The incident took place at around 7 pm near the Picamillo beacon at the entrance to the Ría, in waters off O Grove. The boat had previously taken part in the Trofeo Ignacio Montenegro regatta and was returning for the prize-giving. The Club Náutico San Vicente do Mar in O Grove confirmed the incident. Media outlets such as La Voz de Galicia and PontevedraViva consistently report that the orcas deliberately attacked the rudder blade, impairing the sailing boat’s manoeuvrability.
The organisers alerted the sea rescue services as a precaution; in the end, no tow was needed. No official technical details on the precise extent of the damage or the number of animals involved were initially available. No formal statement from state authorities had been issued at the time of publication.
The incident is part of a series of documented interactions between orcas and leisure boats in Galician waters. In recent months, skippers have reported similar rudder damage off A Coruña and at Estaca de Bares, among other places. Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the sea rescue service have long issued guidance for shipping, including adjusting course and speed and avoiding actively approaching the animals. The aim is to reduce risks to crews and avoid causing further stress to the marine mammals.
Attributed statements and open questions: the available information comes from the regatta organisers, local clubs and eyewitnesses, as reported by regional media. There is no confirmed information on the causes of the interaction, such as whether currents, noise or the boats’ routes played a part. Concern is growing among sailors about sudden losses of manoeuvrability in narrow channels; organisers and rescue services say they intend to continue coordinating procedures for future races in affected areas.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).