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   feld (feld@bikeshed.party)'s status on Thursday, 04-May-2023 02:55:16 JST feld

   in reply to

   • Hollie ☕️
   Orcas are crazy smart and devious. They toy with their prey.
   • Embed this notice
     Hollie ☕️ (hollie@social.coop)'s status on Thursday, 04-May-2023 02:55:17 JST Hollie ☕️

     in reply to

     Before the Well Actually guys chime in, yes a boat can still move without a rudder, but not safely (i.e. steering is gone, most boats don't like to collide with things or begin veering off course) so when you lose a rudder on a sailboat you usually stop, heave to, and stay in one place while you figure out what to do.

     That the orcas are watching this unfold and connecting the dots and then collectively deciding that rudders are their new target is kind of amazing.

   • Embed this notice
     Hollie ☕️ (hollie@social.coop)'s status on Thursday, 04-May-2023 02:55:18 JST Hollie ☕️

     For the last couple of years orcas have been ramming and breaking the rudders of small boats off the coasts of Spain and Portugal. They've actually figured out that without a rudder a boat stops moving, that's pretty forking impressive. They sunk at least one (but didn't attack the lifeboat). Hundreds of these events have happened, it's now a known hazard in the area and boats are advised to avoid the area if they can.

     https://www.yachtingworld.com/news/why-have-orcas-been-attacking-yachts-a-puzzling-mystery-143953