The Islander Magazine took the opportunity to sit down with Phillip Seippel who very quickly reveals that his true passion lies in sailing. This May, it’s been 44 years since he crossed the Atlantic on his Baltic 46 ‘Infinity’ from Ft Lauderdale, via Bermuda and The Azores to Mallorca. 

Like many of our readers, he made the deliberate choice to base himself in Mallorca. That was nearly 60 years ago. We speak with the successful insurance businessman and avid sailor to see through his eyes how the island has developed since then.  

The Islander:  Phillip, these days, many people move to Mallorca for obvious reasons. What was your motivation back then and what was it like here? Was it the Atlantic crossing that brought you here?

Seippel: Not quite. Though I did sail here from Florida in 1981, I first came to Mallorca from the USA via England, as a student in 1968, then settling in Puerto de Andratx. I do not use the word paradise lightly , but Mallorca in those days was as magical of a place you could ever imagine. Puerto de Andratx had two restaurants, a couple of seaside cafes, no yacht club and few houses. The few sailing yachts based there, were on swinging moorings in the inner harbour. There were a couple of Colmados (small grocery stores for supplies), and contraband tobacco was purchased behind the counter at the bakers. The Peseta was the legal tender of the land. “Poste Restante” was the mail delivery address and mail was collected at the local café. It was impossible to spend over 500 pesetas in a day. If you went out for the evening with a 500 Peseta note and didn’t return with 300 you probably lost some along the way! The local menu cost 27 Pesetas, including wine. Water was extra. There was one central telephone station, and you booked international calls 48 hours in advance, which did not really matter as the other party could not hear you anyway, no matter how loud you would shout!

The Islander: We know you have joined many a regatta here participating at pretty much all levels. What was early racing here in Mallorca like?   

Seippel: There was really very little racing in Puerto then. Most of it was in Palma. That said, we did campaign a 420 racing dinghy locally which essentially got me hooked into the racing world. After that we either raced out of Palma and occasionally Barcelona, sailing Puma 34’s, Chance 36. S&S 44’s and the Baltic. These were all cruising yachts. Other than dinghies, all racers were cruisers. Early fleets were manned by enthusiastic amateurs or -more or less willing- family members who shared a love for the sea and the comradery of a regatta. 

The Islander: What were some of the biggest changes you witnessed over these years ?

Seippel: Well, over 50 years!! A Lot! The changes have been huge and never ending for club racing. I think it can all be summed up in the never-ending advance of knowledge and technology along with ever-larger investments to compete at the highest levels.

The really big change started with sail development, followed closely by hull designs. The development of one design racing, One Tonners, Quarter tonners, etc started the world of dedicated racing. The fleets had fewer and fewer cruiser racers and more racer cruisers or one design racers. Then came the electronics, computers, GPS, optimal rating speeds, VMGs etc. Racing and all that came with it was not only a lifetime passion but also, for many, a lifetime profession.   

The Islander: So, whereas cruisers used to race each other, you mentioned how cruising and racing have become 2 distinct types of sailing. In your observation, what are the biggest changes in cruising in Balearic waters over these years?

Seippel: Yachts, more yachts and then even more yachts. In the very late 60’s, aside from Real Club Náutico de Palma, there were no real marinas or clubs in Mallorca. Now there are some 33 marinas and clubs in Mallorca. And of course also in Menorca and Ibiza. The advent of mass production of motor yachts of all sizes has brought access to the sea for many. Along with all of this, came new businesses, employment, and a plethora of experts, some real, some not. Not all cowboys were in the wild west. That said, the nautical industry of Mallorca today has become renowned for standard of excellence.

To point, reading your magazine and noting the many highly professional firms advertising just proves my point. Mallorca is now the number one yacht center, bar none.

The Islander: And the downside to all this growth?

Seippel: I am a positive and always optimistic person. Of course, with all the numbers has come an excess of some regulations, zoning, controlled anchorages, and excessive bureaucracy. I could have never imagined that one day it would be necessary to reserve a buoy in some tranquil cala weeks ahead. Getting a marina mooring is tantamount to impossible for many. Fortunately, the charter fleets have increasingly grown to offset this problem. Of course, I miss the paradise of yesteryear, but again, the joy and sheer fun of the nautical community continues to bring the marvelous world of boats and yachts to many. And what has not changed, As the Water Rat said to the Mole: “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing–absolutely nothing–half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” (Wind in the Willows, 1908)

Phillip Seippel is founder of the Seippel & Seippel, International Insurance Brokerage, today managed with his daughter Jasmine Seippel. Seippel and Seippel are based in Santa Ponsa, Pto Andratx and Santanyi. With 20 dedicated insurance professionals, insuring all that should be insured, including the ever-growing marine industry.