With Wind, Waves and WhatsApp: A Cala d’Or Skipper Shares His Story

An Everyday Life Between Power Outlets and Rough Seas

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I meet Mateo* (name changed) on a Sunday morning at 08:00 in Cala d’Or Marina. He actually has a different name, but that’s what regulars call him. The sailing yacht stands polished at the dock, the rigging clacks like an old clock. He pulls the coffee mug out from the bilge, looks tired, and still laughs: \"Today we're heading to Cala Sa Nau, if the wind cooperates.\"

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More than just a helmsman

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A charter skipper is a craftsman, psychologist, teacher and sometimes a babysitter in one. Mateo tells of families onboard for the first time, of couples who after two days of intense togetherness start to address things they have postponed at home for years. \"You have to be a little careful,\" he says, \"when there's trouble in the cabin the first aid kit won't fix relationship drama.\"

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Practically he’s always the first point of contact: battery problems, seasickness, wrong knots, lost glasses — and of course the question of where to charge the phone. Phones are as present as life jackets. He makes sure that someone still comes on deck now and then, because sunsets don't wait for Instagram.

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Routes, rules, realism

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\"Planning is good, weather is better,\" says Mateo. The routes are discussed beforehand, but a strong breeze or a Spanish rain front quickly rewrites things. Two weeks with guests? Then Menorca is no longer a dream but a logistical compromise. A typical week: Saturday boarding, Friday disembarking, in between coves, snorkeling, and in the evenings: nothing but the sound of water against the hull.

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The galley is improvised, the fridge surprisingly reliable — and often full of cans of beer. Mateo estimates that in a week up to 40 cans can end up on the planks. Safety always comes first: bathing zones, life jackets for kids, clear rules for jumping. \"If the crew doesn't play along, it gets complicated,\" he says succinctly.

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Short anecdotes, long memories

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There are anecdotes you tell with laughter: the manager who stayed offline for an hour and then relaxed; the extended family where it took until the third evening for the kids to get along. And there are quieter moments: a glass of water at sunrise, dolphins escorting the bow, or the rare feeling that everyone simply doesn't have to say anything.

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Mateo remains pragmatic at the end. His job isn't a movie. Sometimes it's boring, sometimes chaotic, often beautiful. He has stories, gray hair and a small hammock in the foredeck into which he sinks when the night is calm. \"The job changes you,\" he says. \"You get to know people in short form. And I learn a little more every summer.\"

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On-board tips: book early (Easter fills up), reapply sunscreen, pack snacks, and trust the skipper—the route will be a good one, promise.