New Beginning in Mallorca: The Haudes, Their Boat The Phoenix, and a Different Life

From Hamburg Rain to the Harbor Routine in El Arenal

This story doesn't start with a grand plan, but with a video call on a frosty evening in Hamburg. Gerrit and Ela Haude watched as a friend at the other end of the screen casually filled his pool. It was drizzling outside. Inside, the decision suddenly became clear: go, toward the sun.

A decision that also had to do with health

Ela, 42, had undergone heavy treatments during the Corona period. The cold, gray winters in northern Germany made life harder for her — more pain, less mobility. In Mallorca, she often says, the milder winters do her good. That was a major reason, not just a dream.

Five months later the move was through: the apartment was dissolved, parents-in-law curious, suitcases packed. The family, now with two daughters, left Hamburg behind and found in El Arenal a new tempo: early mornings at the harbor, gulls' calls, the scent of salt, and the routine of a day on the water.

From a regular job to their own ship

Gerrit, 51, had worked as an advertising technician. On the island he gradually rose to skipper. By chance his eye fell on an older boat in the marina: "The Phoenix". Mooring, dimensions, the potential — everything fit. He rolled up his sleeves, renovated, learned what was missing, and made the vessel seaworthy for charter trips.

Today they run morning family excursions, afternoon trips, and sundowner tours. Up to eleven guests can fit aboard; the price for an exclusive trip starts at around 650 euros including stops and drinks. The route toward Cala Blava is popular — calm coves, rugged cliffs, and the view of the hidden Cap Rocat hotel, which is especially visible from the water.

Hand in hand

The project is a family business: Ela manages bookings, organization and finances; the children help with serving, and the parents-in-law often come as the first guests. "The boat is more than a workplace," says Gerrit. "It is our new beginning."

Those who visit quickly notice: here honest work meets a pinch of island luck. Not a glossy brochure, but a daily life with repairs on Monday, sunburn on Wednesday, and satisfied guests on weekends. And in the evenings, when Palma's lights glimmer softly, the family often sits on the deck and counts how many things they do differently, and usually better, than before.