The image of the ‘Bau bau’ sailboat, grounded on a fossil dune in Xàbia's Primer Montanyar since July 24, 2025, has become an unusual tourist attraction for the town. The 19-meter-long vessel ran aground on the coast after a strong storm.
The sailboat was seized in an anti-drug trafficking operation and later purchased at auction by a Polish national for approximately 85,000 euros. However, the owner had little time to enjoy it, as two months later it ran aground on Xàbia's rocks due to a storm.
Since then, the sailboat has become a point of interest for visitors, who come to photograph it or even create artistic works. Its story and situation are a recurring topic of conversation.
The work to refloat it has been complicated by successive storms and administrative complexity. A second storm pushed the vessel further inland, making its removal by sea impossible and requiring a land-based operation.
The Directorate General of Coasts has finally authorized the removal work, which will take place starting October 13th, coinciding with the end of the high tourist season. According to municipal sources, safety criteria have been followed to determine the date. The Xàbia City Council has collaborated with the ministry, emptying the boat of fuel and other potential spills for safety. Details on whether the operation will require dismantling the vessel, which is already considerably damaged, have not been provided.
