Navegavela - Escuela náutica y alquiler de veleros en San Sebastián

Navegavela is a sailing school and sailboat rental company offering both skippered and bareboat rentals with boats in the ports of Donostia-San Sebastián and Hondarribia and an office in Irun. For more than 15 years, it has been sharing its passion for the sea and sailing. It has the Family Friendly certification—a rarity among sailing boats—making it ideal if you’re sailing with young children.

Sailing from La Concha Bay

Setting sail from one of the most famous bays in the world is a unique experience. Navegavela offers several sailboats of different lengths and technical levels, for beginners and for those who want to race. You choose the boat, schedule, and route.

Activities

• First-time sailing experience: your first time aboard a sailboat.
• Charter with or without a skipper for a day, a weekend, or a full week.
• One-way trips.
• Sailing regattas.
• Watch the Traineras Regatta or the fireworks of the Semana Grande from the sea.
• Fishing trips with professional sport fishermen, on a motorboat or from their sailboats.

Sailing Academy

Navegavela offers courses for all recreational boating certifications:

Certification	Format
Navigation License	No exam, one-day course
Basic Navigation Skipper (PNB)	Theory and practical training
Recreational Boat Skipper (PER)	Blended learning, in-person, on board, express, or via videoconference
Yacht Skipper	On-board course available
Yacht Captain	Official theory and practical training

They also offer official practical training in motorboating, sailing, and radio communication, expansion of PER privileges, and practical training for Yacht Skipper and Yacht Captain certifications.

Sailing Club: Treat the Boat as If It Were Yours

For those who want to sail often without owning their own boat, Navegavela offers a boat-sharing club:

• The boat is divided among 3 groups of 6 members.
• Availability calendar to organize outings.
• Minimum of 2 members required to set sail.
• You just focus on sailing; the school handles the rest.

What People Are Saying About Them

Partners such as the San Sebastián Aquarium and nautical journalists highlight their enthusiasm, approachability, and professionalism, and consider them ambassadors of the Basque coast.

The Basque Coast from a Sailboat

• La Concha Bay, with Santa Clara Island and the Urgull and Igueldo mountains.
• Hondarribia and Txingudi Bay, on the border with France.
• Cliffs, coves, and fishing ports such as Pasaia and Getaria.

Which option should you choose?

• First time on a sailboat: introductory sailing trip around La Concha Bay.
• Plan for a couple or with friends: private sailboat with a skipper, anchored near Santa Clara.
• You already have a sailing license: bareboat rental by the day or week.
• You want to sail year-round: sailing club with a shared boat.
• You like to compete: regattas with boats built for racing.

Tips for your sailing trip

1. Check the forecast: in the Cantabrian Sea, swells can affect sailing conditions.
2. Bring a waterproof jacket: it can get chilly even in summer.
3. Wear shoes with white soles that won’t leave marks on the deck.
4. Book early if you want to see the fishing boats or the fireworks from the sea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license? No, if you’re sailing with a skipper. Without a skipper, you’ll need the appropriate license.

Where do the trips depart from? From the ports of Donostia-San Sebastián and Hondarribia. The office is located at Gabiria Kalea 2, Irun.

Is it suitable for children? Yes, they have the Family Friendly seal.

How do I contact them? By phone at 648 18 30 37 or by email at [email protected].