Polaris Nautika Eskola, sailing on the coast of Biscay.

Get to know Bilbao and the coast of Bizkaia sailing aboard the Polaris Bat, the Polaris Nautika Eskola boat.

Getxo, one of the most charming municipalities of Bizkaia, welcomes the Polaris Bat, a boat of 11 meters in length and 3.7 meters in beam (Beneteau Oceanis 373 model) that docks at the pontoon H of Getxo kaia, the marina of the town. It is there, at the end of the pontoon H, where we met with the people in charge of Polaris Nautika Eskola, Hector and Nekane, a couple who have decided to create a company that combines all the necessary services to go to sea: obtaining nautical qualifications and boat rental with or without skipper.

Although Polaris Nautika Eskola has 2 different branches of business, nautical school and pleasure boat rental, our experience aboard the Polaris Bat was exclusively tourist. And the fact is that renting a boat with a Polaris skipper allows us to enjoy countless areas of our coast, including the cliffs of Punta Galea, the Bizkaia Bridge, the Bay of Plentzia and the Old Port of Algorta. Get to know Bizkaia from a totally different perspective to the one you know so far, get to know Bizkaia from the sea, get to know Bizkaia from the Polaris Bat!

Experience: Although Polaris Nautika Eskola is a recently created company, its managers have a long experience in the sector. Their love for the sea has led them to share their knowledge in nautical-sports training in centers located in Mediterranean and Cantabrian ports since 1986, a great experience that offers us a guarantee of their services.

Union with the sea and territory: The people of the Basque coast have always lived facing the sea, enjoying its riches and fighting against its misfortunes. A way of life that they share in Polaris Nautika Eskola encouraging us to carry out activities such as fishing and nautical sports from the deck of the Polaris Bat. Basque, our language, our sign of identity, is also present in Polaris Nautika Eskola, a fact that we can see in the names of the company and the boat.

Vessel: Polaris Nautika Eskola’s vessel, the Polaris Bat, is a cruising class sailboat. Spacious and easy to handle, this is how we can define this Beneteau Oceanis 373 model that has space for up to 12 crew members. Its 11 meters in length and 3.7 meters in beam offer spaciousness and comfort on and below deck, a comfortable space in which to enjoy the environment while the sea breeze caresses our skin.

For those who have the title of Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo, better known as PER, we must indicate that this sailboat built in 2010 has a furling genoa and mainsail, a comfort to take into account while sailing. Do you dare to sail with the sound of the sea and the wind as companions?

Mooring: The mooring of Polaris Bat, located in the pontoon “H” of the marina of Getxo, Getxo Kaia, allows us to embark everything we need for our experience comfortably. The marina of Getxo has a restaurant, bar and cinema service, as well as several free parking areas where we can leave our vehicles during our outing.

Located near the area where the waters of the Bilbao estuary merge with those of the Cantabrian Sea, the mooring of the Polaris Bat allows us to sail on both sides of the Abra Bay, 2 different navigation profiles that create addiction. Urban navigation or coastal navigation? Which do you choose?

Attention: The skipper of the boat and one of the people responsible for it, Hector, welcomes us with his wife, Nekane, in what is his second home, the Polaris Bat. At the stern, while Nekane takes up the ropes and Hector corrects the course of the rudder, a cozy atmosphere is created that helps us to enjoy our trip aboard the Polaris Bat even more, if that is possible. A pleasant company that becomes essential in a space that is dwarfed by the immensity of the sea.

Flexibility: With or without skipper, a full day or half day, Cantabrian Sea or Bilbao estuary, calm or adventure. Polaris Nautika Eskola offers, you choose. Plan your trip to the sea in the company of your family or friends, select the course that you most like.

A different perspective: Most Bizkainos and Bizkainas know every corner of their province like the back of their hand but the reaction when glimpsing their land from the sea, is always the same, mind-blowing! Get to know Bizkaia and its capital, Bilbao, under sail, while the only sound that accompanies you is the wind whipping the sails.

Prices: Polaris Nautika Eskola boat rental prices vary depending on the sailing time and services contracted. The prices below are subject to variations by Polaris Nautika Eskola. All prices include VAT.

Navigation route: At the end of the day it is possible to obtain an overview of the route taken thanks to the AIS locator fitted to the vessel (mandatory on all training vessels). This information can be consulted online on the Marine Traffic website.

Unfortunately, during our outing, we did not have enough wind to sail and we had to motor part of the route.

Sailing club: If you have the necessary qualifications (minimum PER), you can sail 7 days a month aboard the Polaris Bat with its sailing club. The price to belong to this club is 95€ /month (VAT included). The first month, and completely free of charge, Polaris Nautika Eskola offers the services of a monitor to help us to take control of the boat, a detail that is appreciated.

Weekend: Upon request, it is possible to make a tour along the Basque coast, a weekend in which it is possible to contemplate emblematic ports of our coast such as Bermeo, Lekeitio, Pasaia or Hondarribia. Polaris manages everything necessary to spend the night and anchor/moor in the marinas of our coast. Undoubtedly, a trip with a lot of charm.

Our recommendations: Although the weekend trip is clearly the most charming trip, it is also the most expensive, that is why we recommend an intermediate point, 4 or 8 hours trips. If you opt for half a day we recommend sailing the estuary of Bilbao, on the other hand if you decide to sail all day we recommend enjoying the cliffs that link Getxo and Gorliz.

Sail in the most natural way possible, sailing, a navigation that allows us to enjoy the charms of the coast of Biscay from a different perspective, from the sea.