‘Huge’ Sperm Whale Sinks Yacht, Leaving 4 Sailors Stranded at Sea for 17 Hours

**Sailors Rescued After Collision with Sperm Whale Off Norfolk Island**

In a dramatic incident off the coast of New Zealand, four sailors are fortunate to be alive after their yacht sank following a collision with a sperm whale. The event unfolded on Saturday, 26 September 2026, approximately 250 nautical miles north of Norfolk Island.

The crew members aboard the Australian vessel, Tai Tam, found themselves in peril after the unexpected encounter with one of the majestic sea creatures. Local time was around 1 p.m. when emergency services received a distress call indicating that the yacht was taking on water due to the impact with a whale, as reported by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).

Jemma Cooper, one of the crew members and on a three-month sailing journey with her husband, recounted the harrowing experience. She described witnessing multiple whales prior to the accident, stating, “There was a thud. We knew we’d been hit by something. I was thrown over to port side because of the impact… there were, like, six of them. One to two huge ones; they were as long as the boat.”

The crew, comprised of two Australians, a New Zealander, and a French national, initially attempted to salvage their yacht by bailing water. However, as the situation escalated and the prospects for recovery became increasingly grim, they made the crucial decision to abandon ship and take refuge in a life raft. Jeremy Cooper, Jemma’s husband, shared, “It was pretty clear the situation was likely to be unrecoverable… we called a Mayday.”

Following their distress signal, a merchant vessel was dispatched to assist. The crew endured a torturous wait of 17 hours in the life raft before being spotted and rescued by the MV Sofrana Surville, a 469-foot cargo ship, around 6 a.m. the following day.

The efficiency of the rescue operation was underscored by the coordinated efforts of New Zealand and Australian authorities. A P-8A surveillance aircraft established communications with both the stranded sailors and vessels in the immediate vicinity, ensuring that help was directed promptly to their location.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Jeremy Cooper expressed gratitude for the timely response and favourable weather conditions that played a crucial role in their rescue. “We’re unlucky to have been hit by the whale,” he remarked, “but then we were really lucky with the level of the response and the weather.”

Jemma’s emotional relief was palpable upon seeing the rescuers arrive. “I was just so keen to make sure I could get my feet on that bottom rung,” she said, adding, “When that last crew member gets on board and you know that they’re safe, I’ve just burst into tears.”

Fortunately, despite the severe nature of their ordeal, no injuries were reported among the sailors. Mike Clulow, of EFG Asset Management, praised the rescue mission as a testament to well-coordinated operations. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the NZDF, along with support from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Australia and Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Noumea.

Clulow remarked, “The crew of the yacht did all the right things, and it was unfortunate to have struck a whale in open water. They were well-prepared, and the early activation of their Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was key to helping get them to safety.”

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of preparedness when venturing out to sea, as demonstrated by the swift actions taken by the crew of Tai Tam. Proper planning and safety measures can make a significant difference in life-threatening situations at sea.