Brief
Sperm whale rams yacht north of Norfolk Island, crew rescued after 18 hours
The incident left the yacht with a smashed starboard hull and no steering, prompting a Mayday call and a rescue by the MV Sofrana Sur.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A pod of eight to ten sperm whales collided with a 52‑ft yacht about 250 nautical miles north of Norfolk Island on Saturday, forcing the crew to abandon ship. The crew were rescued around 6 am Sunday (BST 6 pm Saturday) by the container ship MV Sofrana Sur, about 18 hours after the impact, according to the New Zealand Defence Force.
What happened
At roughly 1 pm New Zealand time, the yacht’s steering gear was smashed on the starboard side and water began flooding the hull. Australian crew member Jemma Cooper described a loud thud and the boat being pushed sideways. Her husband Jeremy Cooper, who was sleeping below deck, was awakened by the impact. French crewman Martin Jaffre reported gashes in the hull, cracked fibre‑glass, and a broken steering system.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that the crew activated an emergency beacon 30 minutes after the collision and declared a full Mayday. Crew members bailed water by hand, used expansion foam to slow flooding, and attempted to keep the engine running despite clogging. After several hours, they cut the yacht’s tether and moved to a life raft under a full moon before the vessel sank.
What was said
Jemma Cooper told AFP, “There was sort of a loud thud. The whole boat was pushed sideways.” Jeremy Cooper said, “It was pretty immediately evident it was very serious.” Martin Jaffre said, “We could no longer steer the boat, and a boat with no steering quickly becomes a problem.”
How it came about
The incident follows previous whale‑boat collisions, including a 2025 orca attack on a family yacht off Portugal. Sperm whales can reach 50‑60 ft in length, making such encounters hazardous for small vessels.
Key facts
- A pod of sperm whales struck a 52‑ft yacht 250 nm north of Norfolk Island. (independent.co.uk)
- The crew activated a Mayday beacon 30 minutes after the collision. (independent.co.uk)
- All crew were rescued by the container ship MV Sofrana Sur about 18 hours later. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Gang of eight sperm whales sink yacht after ramming boat in South Pacific”
