The Story of Polaris
Few boats can claim a past like hers. Before she carried guests across the turquoise Adriatic, Polaris carried a far heavier weight — as a veteran of the D-Day landings of 1944.
When most people step aboard a tour boat, they think only of the day ahead — the sun, the sea, the swim stops. Aboard Polaris, you step into something far greater: a vessel that witnessed one of the defining moments of modern history.
Polaris was built in 1943, in the midst of the Second World War. She was made to work and to last — and within a year she found herself among the vast Allied fleet gathered off the coast of Normandy for the largest seaborne invasion ever attempted.
Originally named Grangetown, she was renamed Polaris in 1970 when she arrived in Croatia and found her new home in the Dalmatian Adriatic — the waters she still sails today.
That she survived is remarkable. That she sails today — restored, dignified and full of character — is something close to extraordinary. Every voyage aboard Polaris is, in a small way, a tribute to her history.
A timeline of Polaris
Built for war
Polaris was constructed during the height of the Second World War — a small, sturdy and dependable workhorse built to endure the harshest conditions the sea and the conflict could throw at her.
D-Day, Normandy
On 6 June 1944, she took part in Operation Overlord — the Allied invasion of Normandy. Among the largest seaborne invasion in history, Polaris played her part in one of the most pivotal moments of the 20th century.
A working life at sea
After the war, like many vessels of her generation, the boat — then named Grangetown — turned to a quieter working life: decades of honest service that left their mark on her hull and her character.
A new name, a new home
In 1970 the boat arrived in Croatia and was renamed Polaris. It was here, in the Dalmatian waters that would become her home, that she began the chapter that continues to this day.
Reborn in the Adriatic
Lovingly restored and brought to Split, Polaris now sails the Dalmatian coast as a characterful old-fashioned excursion yacht — carrying guests instead of cargo, and stories instead of supplies.
Today, Polaris sails the calm waters of the Adriatic — a peaceful contrast to the seas she once crossed. We invite you to come aboard, feel her history beneath your feet and become part of her next chapter.
Sail aboard a piece of history
Book your place on Polaris and experience the Adriatic aboard a true D-Day veteran.