New Start in El Arenal: The Haudes, Their Boat "The Phoenix" and Life on Deck

From the grey north to salty morning air

Some decisions arrive quietly: a video call on a cold evening in Hamburg, a friend splashing in a pool, and suddenly the idea of warm winters and fewer aches appears. For Ela and Gerrit Haude that was the trigger. Not a sophisticated revolution plan, but the wish for a different everyday life — less rain, more sun, more room for the family.

A wellbeing reason that is more than longing

Ela, 42, openly says health reasons played a part. The crowded, dark winters in the north affected her mobility; on Mallorca, she says, she felt relief within the first months. It may sound unspectacular, but it is tangible: better quality of life for the family, fewer clinic appointments and everyday life that allows walks by the sea.

Five months was the practical part: closing the flat, packing boxes, dealing with authorities and finally arriving in El Arenal. The first morning here — gull calls, the clink of fenders at the jetty, the smell of coffee and sea — quickly made it clear that it was not just a change of scenery but a new beginning.

From crafts to business

Gerrit, 51, formerly a sign technician, found a way in the harbor to turn his craftsmanship into something of his own. "The Phoenix" was an older boat with flaws but lots of character. He screwed, sanded, planned and learned step by step the small print of a Sunday with a skipper from Cala d'Or: safety checks, routes, paperwork. Many things went wrong, some turned out well — typical island lessons.

Today they take families out in the mornings, offer short trips in the afternoons, similar to a relaxed outing from Cala Rajada, and the popular sundowner tours in the evening. Up to eleven guests can fit; prices start at around €650 for an exclusive tour including stops and drinks. The Haudes especially like to head for the quiet coves toward Cala Blava — clear water, rugged rocks and the view of the hidden Cap Rocat hotel, which looks very different from the sea than from the road.

Family-run with island rhythm

Everyone helps on deck: Ela organizes bookings and the cash, the daughters help with serving, and the in-laws are often the first test guests. It's not a glossy operation but honest, hard work — a repair on Monday, sunscreen on Wednesday, laughing guests and improvised tapas at the weekend.

It becomes clear fast: practical necessity and island happiness come together here. The neighbors from the harbor bring tips, the small bakery on the promenade supplies morning rolls, and in the evenings, when the lights of Palma twinkle like scattered fireflies, the Haudes sit on deck and count the things they would do differently — and the things that are already right.

Why this is good for Mallorca too

Family projects like this bring more than tourist offers. They are part of a sustainable island landscape: local value creation, personal encounters instead of anonymous crowds, jobs that think beyond the season. The Haudes make sure not to overcrowd small coves and work with local suppliers — a quiet contribution to a gentler form of tourism.

And there is something else: the island gains people who want to stay, not just visitors. That is a subtle but important change: new faces, new ideas and a bit more everyday life between the seasons.

Outlook

"The Phoenix" is more than a name for the boat — it fits the family's mood: making something new out of the old, learning on deck and rising again. Visitors to the Haudes do not get a perfectly styled postcard but an honest island moment: a sunset with a sea breeze, children's laughter on deck and a conversation about what really matters. And that, we believe, is a kind of Mallorca magic that endures.