Astronomical sailboat getaway in the Cantabrian Sea

Set sail in search of the most impressive night skies in the Cantabrian Sea.

Spaces Available

6 Seats

Duration

24-48 hours

Embarkation/Disembarkation

Marina del Cantábrico, in Santander

Format

Plaza a Plaza / Exclusive boat

Available from April to November

Cancellation free of charge up to 7 days prior to departure

Supplier activity: Cabo Mayor

Languages available: English and Spanish

Location: Marina del Cantábrico, in Santander

From
300€
/output 24 hours

Chasing the stars away from the night lights

The Cantabrian Sea hides a dark and clear sky, perfect for observing the firmament.
In this experience you will sail along the coast, anchoring in its natural spots.
And when we sail in the open sea, on board you will see the ancient navigation instruments.
With sextant available for the most daring!

Includes:

Exclusive boat

Provisioning on board during navigation

Fuel

Cleaning

Compulsory Travelers Insurance

We advise you without obligation

Practice astronavigation

You will discover how the instruments work to orient yourself by the stars: astrolabe, nocturlab, sextant, spyglass, nautical charts, sundial and hourglass.

Guides in the sea and sky

You will be accompanied by professional skippers and Starlight monitors, who will teach you curiosities about the firmament and astronavigation.

Virtual Reality

Let us take you on a journey into the past with our virtual reality experience.
Our ship will travel back to the 16th century to discover how sailors used the stars to calculate their position and guide their ships.
Available from June!

Learn curiosities about the stars

You will learn to recognize the stars and constellations with the help of a planisphere.
In addition, you will discover how to use the sextant to guide navigation.

A unique night sky

Be amazed by the wonders that city lights hide every day, with the help of an astronomy expert skipper.

Explore the Bay of Biscay on a sailboat

Discover unique landscapes and dark skies sailing to La Rochelle (France).

Our route :

At sunset

Boarding and explanations

  • We will meet before sunset at the Cantabrian Marina in Santander (pontoon T).
  • We will learn how to navigate with the sextant and other instruments and assign roles
  • We will begin to recognize the first stars at sunset, leaving behind the Bay of Santander.
    The first hours we will sail close to the coast away from important urban centers.
    If conditions permit, our first observation will be near Langre.
    Its spectacular cliffy beach allows us to enjoy the first dark sky still close to the coast.
After sunset

Navigation and stars

  • When the stars come out, we will carry out the astronomical navigation plan.
  • We will continue sailing eastward, being aware of the effects of light pollution from the cities on the sky as we approach the urban centers of Laredo/ Castro Urdiales and Bilbao.
  • From this point we will have two alternatives depending on the sea conditions, wind and weather forecast for the next few hours: to set course for the Port of La Rochelle or to continue the crossing further away from the coast in an easterly direction.
  • The navigation towards La Rochelle will allow us to contemplate a sky free of light pollution, in open sea.
    On board we will be able to show you the old navigation instruments.
    The sextant will be available for the most daring.

 

  When you book we will send you a Voucher with all the details: schedule, meeting point, contact telephone numbers and some recommendations.

The skies on this route

The lights cover the sky every night.
But it is enough to get away from the noise and the cities to rediscover the Universe that surrounds us.
In the Cantabrian Sea we will enjoy a sky of 4 on the Bortle scale, which measures the quality of an area for astronomical observation.
We will be able to observe with the naked eye the Milky Way and an infinity of stars.

More Information

The Bortle scale is used to measure sky brightness.
It consists of nine levels ranging from the darkest sky (level 1) to the brightest sky (level 9), always taking into account light pollution.
Each level provides information on the quality of the sky and the objects we can observe.
Thus, a perfect sky for observation would enjoy level 1 and a sky in the center of a big city would enjoy level 9.

You will go aboard the Izara, a 12-meter sailboat.

Boat specifications:

Length 11.99 m

Beam 3.90 m

Manufactured in 2007

Up to 10 persons + crew

3 Cabins

1 Bathroom

This boat has:

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Awning

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Bathroom ladder

Bathtub cushions

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Shower

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Speakers

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Spray hood

Hot water

USB port

Wi-Fi

Autopilot

Electric windlass

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GPS

Guides and charts

Probe

VHF

Oven/Stove

Refrigerator

Glasses and tubes

Gennaker

Mainsail with battens

Roller genoa

Spinnaker

Pattern

Write to us!
Our astronavigators are here to make your experience unforgettable.
We will help you understand what is included in the price, what the boats are like, how the astronomical activities work and any other questions you may have.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I cancel the previously booked activity?

On each short or long experience page, you have the information and cancellation policy specific to it.
If you still have doubts, you can contact us and we will help you to solve them.

How can I pay at Sea Starlight?

All you have to do is pre-book your activity and fill in the contact information required on the screen.
Shortly, the person in charge of the chosen activity will contact you and will indicate the method of payment (usually by bank transfer or bizum).

If I am going to sail, is it necessary to have any previous experience?

Our experiences are designed for anyone with an interest and no sailing or astronomy experience is required.
Our instructors and skippers love to share their knowledge with all those who visit us.

What should I bring on the day of departure?

Before the activity you will receive a voucher with all the details of your reservation and with the main tips both for sailing and for making observations.
It will depend a lot on the time of the year and the area where you are going to do your activity, but keep in mind that as a general rule, in the sea even in summer it is always advisable to wear several clothes and if we are hot we will remove layers.
Always take some warm clothes for sailing!
The same thing happens when we do observations at night, that although they are months of heat, at night temperatures drop quite a lot and it is preferable to be prepared with a good jacket, a hat to cover our head and even gloves.

Can I hire an exclusive activity?

Of course.
It will depend on the availability in each case but it is very common to reserve a boat for a family or group exclusively.

Is the activity I am going to perform insured?

All our boats are duly registered in List 6 and are covered by Civil Liability Insurance and SOVI (Compulsory Travelers Insurance).
Insurance to cover the typical case of not coming because my grandfather got sick is another matter.
In such cases, you have to take out personal insurance.

Can I meet the employer/monitor beforehand?

If you have any questions we can put you in contact with the skipper.
In the Voucher that we send you previously you will find the data of the skipper/monitor.

May I meet the rest of the crew?

We usually form a WhataApp group before setting sail so that you can get to know the rest of the group and the skipper.
You can discuss the shopping list and other logistical aspects of the trip.

I would like to take the opportunity to learn to sail during a sailing trip, is this possible?

It is always possible and if you want to take the opportunity to learn or increase your training this will be the ideal time.
Most of our skippers are also instructors and have thousands of miles under their belts, so they will be happy to share their knowledge with you and you will be able to actively participate in the maneuvers of the yacht.

Are guards on duty during long departures?

Sailing at night is a wonderful experience but we must take certain precautions.
It is common for passengers to participate in night watches, but always under the supervision and control of the skipper.
It will be an ideal time to enjoy the stars and constellations.
That way the watches will surely be very short!

How many people are on a boat?

It depends a lot on each vessel, specifically on the number of cabins (cabins) available.
Keep in mind that the cabins are usually double cabins and in the “square to square” format it is common to share a cabin with another person.
If you are traveling as a couple, don’t worry, you will have a cabin just for yourselves.
The dinette or saloon is also usually convertible into a bed, although it is the place where the skipper usually sleeps.

On long experiences who is in charge of shopping and cooking?

We usually say that the shopping list, the stowage of food/drinks and cooking are part of the exciting adventure of sailing.
These tasks are done together but always following the skipper’s advice.
Before setting sail you will receive this advice before going to the supermarket.

Will I be able to charge my phone or other electronic equipment on the ship?

Boats are connected to 220v when in port but when sailing they are usually connected to 12v.
Some incorporate generators that can help us to continue having 220v on board even when sailing, but in general, phones, tablets, cameras, and other small devices will never have a problem charging them at 12v or with the help of a cigarette lighter in some cases and in others with a USB directly.
Our ground team will inform you conveniently.

Will I have telephone coverage during my trip?

Depending on the geographical area you are in and the miles to travel.
It is likely that on trips away from the coast you may lose cell phone coverage, unless the boat is equipped with satellite telephony, but this is unusual for trips like the ones we do (satellite telephony is more intended for oceanic navigation).

What will happen if the weather is bad?

In case of extreme weather, we will arrange other dates for departure.
But remember that you can also cancel as described in the cancellation policy of each experience.

Is it possible to change the itinerary of my reservation?

We always try to stick to the planned itinerary, but the weather is part of the sailor and safety is the most important thing for us.
We usually have alternative plans ready when we analyze the forecast and observe that sailing is not going to be safe or comfortable, but if that is not possible either, we postpone the departure for a few hours or schedule another day.
In the worst case scenario, you may cancel the experience.

We are an official travel agency

Our vessels have passenger insurance (SOVI).

Secure payment guarantee

Committed to the sustainability of the seas and the sky

We work with local suppliers and promote km 0

Starlight Foundation Seal Certificates

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Astronomical sailboat getaway in the Cantabrian Sea

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