Whale sinks yacht in South Pacific, sailors rescued alive 18 hours later

A sperm whale struck the hull of a yacht situated 250 nautical miles north of Norfolk Island in the South Pacific, endangering the lives of four crew members. The 52-foot vessel, named Tai Tam, experienced a violent impact that disoriented the captain, Jemma Cooper, who was thrown from the steering wheel. Upon noticing a pod of 6-8 sperm whales, the crew realized the severity of the situation.

Jeremy Cooper, the husband of Jemma, awoke to the impact and confirmed the seriousness of the damage, as the steering gear was severely smashed and water quickly entered the boat. At 1 p.m. New Zealand time, the crew activated an emergency beacon, declaring a mayday. They spent the next few hours bailing water and attempting to maintain control of the sinking vessel.

French sailor Martin Jaffre fought to slow the water ingress and eventually had to swim below the boat to inspect the hull. The crew managed to stay aboard for as long as possible, but eventually, they cut their tether and transferred to a life raft as the yacht disappeared beneath the waves. The MV Sofrana Surville, a 470-foot container ship, rescued the sailors 18 hours later, marking a harrowing yet life-saving rescue.

Rescue Coordination Centre Operations Manager Mike Clulow commended the yacht's crew for their well-preparedness and timely activation of the Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon. The incident serves as a stark reminder that preparedness while at sea can be the difference between life and death.