Xàbia sailboat ‘Bau bau’ scheduled for removal

The ‘Bau bau’, a 19-meter sailboat that became an unusual tourist attraction in Xàbia, is scheduled to be removed from its beachside location. The vessel, which was originally seized in a narcotics operation and later purchased at an auction by a Polish national, ran aground following a severe storm in July 2025.

Due to successive storms, the ship was pushed further onto the sand, making maritime recovery impossible. Consequently, the vessel must be extracted by land. The General Directorate of Coasts has authorized the removal operations, which are set to begin on October 13.