Vanessa Mayol Ekman grew up in Mallorca and has her first season in yachting under her belt. During that time, she experienced many of the challenges that green crew members face—something that inspired her to start the Mallorca Greenies community. A project The Islander is keen to support.

Vanessa, tell us about yourself and how you decided to embark on a yachting career.

I grew up in Mallorca, in Llucmajor. My mother, Jessika Ekman, works as an event planner, and my father, Toni Mayol, is a bus driver. With my mother, I speak Swedish, and Catalan with my father. At school, I learned Spanish and English.
I have always felt a strong connection to the sea, to Mallorca, and to nature and animals. I also love travelling and discovering new cultures and people.
After finishing school, I wasn’t sure what to study, so I decided to start working while I figured it out.
I first worked at the airport as an administrative assistant, where I realised that a typical 9-to-5 office job wasn’t for me. After that, I worked in a restaurant, but I knew that wasn’t my direction either.
Later, I had the opportunity to work in a five-star hotel in Palma. From there, I could see the harbour, and every day I watched the boats coming and going, imagining how much I would love to work on one. I decided I was going to pursue a career in yachting after that season.
I knew someone who knew a captain, and he passed my CV on. The captain called me for an interview and hired me as a deck/stew. After three weeks, he offered me the opportunity to do a delivery from Antibes to Mallorca. It was just the two of us. I was scared, as I was still a teenager trusting someone I didn’t know, but I decided to go for it. Everything went well, despite a few cuts from the lines. I adored seeing many dolphins and we arrived safely in Mallorca.
That was my first big challenge completed.

What challenges did you encounter during your first season, and how do you intend to help other “greenies”?

After the delivery, we prepared the yacht for the summer season in dry dock, and later went for a sea trial with the owner. While crossing the bay of Alcudia, the boat suddenly stopped.
That marked the end of my season in May, after two months of very hard work. The engines had broken and needed to be replaced, and the boat wouldn’t be ready until September. The captain told me I could either wait or look for another position.
I was very sad because I really liked my job and didn’t understand why it had to end so early. But I decided to keep going. I started looking for another opportunity, and within a week I joined a yacht in Palma that was heading to Greece for the entire season. It was a difficult decision for a nineteen-year-old who had never been away from her family and friends for so long—but I did it.
Other challenges included missing my family and friends, feeling lonely at times, not always knowing how to do certain tasks, and learning how to manage anxiety. I also experienced long working hours with little sleep, and working under pressure with a captain who was often stressed and sometimes even behaved inappropriately with the crew.

With my group, I want to support other “greenies” by helping them find jobs and sharing tips to make the process easier. I want to create a community where we can learn from each other and not feel alone.
I will also share advice on how to take care of your mental and physical health, both onboard and when you return home. I think it’s also important to talk about basic self-defence, especially for women, and to encourage people to trust their instincts and not stay in toxic environments or on boats that take advantage of inexperience.
I would also like to help with topics like taxes, financial responsibility, building friendships, and sharing knowledge about Mallorca and our culture.

Are you prepared for the 2026 summer season? Which job do you have lined up, and what will you do differently compared to last season?

I am preparing myself as much as possible. I still need to complete my ENG1—I already have an appointment—and after that I will be ready.
I have a position lined up as a sole stewardess. This season, I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. Instead, I want to focus on taking better care of my well-being. I plan to wake up earlier to practise yoga or Pilates, go for a swim, or fly my drone—small things that help me feel balanced.
I feel very lucky to have a wonderful owner who allows me to be myself and enjoy my work, while still maintaining professionalism and completing my responsibilities.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
In five years, I see myself working as a First Officer.

What are your favourite things about yachting and its community?
My favourite things about this industry are travelling, spending most of my time at sea, and meeting people who share a love for sailing and nature. I also love seeing incredible wildlife.
Another thing I really value is the sense of disconnection when you are out at sea—no Wi-Fi, no land in sight—and the meaningful conversations you share with others onboard.

Follow @greeniesmallorca on Instagram and DM to make contact with Vanessa