Image Source: CBS News
Sailors rescued after whale collision in the remote South Pacific are describing a terrifying overnight ordeal after a sperm whale smashed into their yacht, forcing them into a life raft and a fight for survival.
The four crew members were aboard the 52-foot Tai Tam when it encountered a pod of six to eight sperm whales about 250 nautical miles north of Norfolk Island. The collision happened during the weekend, leaving the yacht badly damaged and eventually sending it beneath the waves.
Sailors Rescued After Whale Collision Following 18-Hour Ordeal
Australian crew member Jemma Cooper said she was thrown from the steering wheel when the whale struck the vessel. At first, the crew did not understand what had happened. A brown discoloration in the water and the sight of nearby whales soon revealed the cause.
“There was sort of a loud thud. The whole boat was pushed sideways,” Cooper told Agence France-Presse.
Her husband, Jeremy Cooper, was sleeping below deck when the impact woke him. He quickly realized the situation was critical. The yacht’s steering gear had been smashed, while water began rushing through several openings in the hull.
French crew member Martin Jaffre said the impact caused multiple gashes and cracked the fiberglass structure. Without functioning steering, the crew struggled to control the yacht or keep it stable as flooding worsened.
A Desperate Fight to Keep the Yacht Afloat
The crew declared a full mayday and activated an emergency beacon about 30 minutes after the collision. They spent several hours removing water by hand and tried to slow the flooding with whatever materials were available, including expansion foam.
Jaffre also swam beneath the yacht to inspect the damage. The sailors worked to prevent the engine from becoming clogged while continuing to bail water from inside the vessel.
As night arrived, the crew determined that remaining aboard was too dangerous. They transferred to a life raft in calm seas beneath a full moon. In the early hours of Sunday, they cut the tether connecting the raft to the yacht because they feared the damaged vessel could pull them underwater.
Not long afterward, the Tai Tam slipped beneath the waves.
New Zealand Rescue Team Coordinates Dramatic Recovery
The Royal New Zealand Air Force sent a P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft to the area. The aircraft helped establish radio contact with the sailors and coordinate the rescue response.
At approximately 6 a.m. Sunday, the 470-foot container ship MV Sofrana Surville reached the life raft. The approach was still frightening because of the enormous difference between the container ship and the small raft drifting in open water.
Within about 30 minutes, the four sailors had climbed a ladder aboard the rescue ship. They were given coffee and welcomed by the captain after spending roughly 18 hours dealing with the aftermath of the whale collision.
“It was wonderful, wonderful, and just a terrible, terrible ending — but luckily no loss of life,” Jeremy Cooper said, reflecting on the voyage.
Preparation and an Early Emergency Beacon Proved Critical
Mike Clulow, operations manager for the Rescue Coordination Centre, praised both the sailors and the agencies involved in the response. He said the crew took the right steps and that the early activation of the emergency position-indicating radio beacon was essential.
The rescue highlights several important safety measures for people traveling far from shore:
- Activate an emergency beacon as soon as a serious situation develops.
- Keep life rafts and survival equipment ready for immediate use.
- Leave a sinking vessel before conditions become impossible to escape.
- Maintain radio communication whenever rescue aircraft or ships are nearby.
Adult male sperm whales can measure between 50 and 60 feet long. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers the species vulnerable. Sperm whales reproduce only once every five to seven years and face threats from noise pollution, plastic consumption and ship strikes.
The South Pacific incident is at least the second recent case involving a whale sinking a boat. In July, a whale struck and sank a New Jersey fire department boat, while firefighters were aboard. Nearby boaters helped rescue those crew members.
For the four sailors aboard the Tai Tam, the voyage ended with the loss of their yacht but no loss of life. Their survival was credited to preparation, teamwork, calm seas and a rapid maritime rescue response.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the yacht Tai Tam?
The sperm whale collision damaged the yacht’s hull, steering system and fiberglass structure. The crew later abandoned it, and the Tai Tam sank after they reached a life raft.
How long were the sailors at sea?
The sailors spent approximately 18 hours at sea between the whale collision and their rescue by the container ship MV Sofrana Surville.
Who rescued the four sailors?
The crew was rescued by the 470-foot container ship MV Sofrana Surville after a Royal New Zealand Air Force patrol aircraft helped coordinate the operation.
Were the sailors injured?
The available report said all four sailors survived and that there was no loss of life. The crew successfully reached the rescue ship after abandoning the damaged yacht.
