Pedro Gil: from his first encounter with the sea to steering his own company

The founder of Náutica Sealand and Sin Rumbo Mallorca reflects on Passion for the Sea on the journey that took him from early family fishing trips to creating a nautical school and a project dedicated to training future maritime professionals.

Many of the professionals working in the nautical sector today began enjoying the sea from a young age. In Pedro Gil’s case, that connection was born practically in childhood and, over the years, became his way of life.

The founder of Náutica Sealand and Sin Rumbo Mallorca, a professional skipper and president of the Nautical Charter Association, visited the Passion for the Sea studio to share a career shaped by sailing, entrepreneurship, and the training of new generations of seafarers.

Pedro Gil recalls that everything began when he was a child, when his family would take every opportunity to go out to sea. “My family always instilled in me a love for saltwater. We would go out in a small boat to fish, dive, and discover that world which, even today, is just as it was 200 years ago, the underwater world.”

Those experiences sparked a passion that grew over the years until it became a vocation. “While I was working, the sea would always come to mind—the vast blue sea, the silence, the wind… So I steered my professional career toward recreational nautical training.”

But before founding his own company, Pedro worked as a professional skipper, a stage he considers essential to truly understanding the profession. Those early years taught him that the sea combines unforgettable moments with situations of great demand. “Sailing teaches you the best and the worst.”

However, he never doubted that he wanted to dedicate his life to the sea. “I knew that, despite the storms and the toughest moments, this would be my purpose.”

His entrepreneurial journey began with a single semi-rigid boat for rental, although from day one he was clear about his goals. “I made a five-year plan, and I’ve kept it like a treasure.”

That plan gradually came to fruition until he achieved one of his biggest dreams. “After five years, I was able to buy my first sailing boat, which was my passion.”

Like any entrepreneur, he acknowledges that the road has not always been easy. “We’ve suffered fires caused by neighboring boats, problems with other companies… All of that comes at a high cost, but it’s also what shapes you.”

After nearly two decades of professional experience, Pedro decided to open a nautical school with a very clear goal: to pass on everything he had learned over the years. “I wanted to take a more emotional than economic step and offer people the opportunity to learn everything I had learned.”

Teaching thus became a natural extension of his professional career. “We stand out because we offer very small classes and maintain close, personal attention.”

The project also has a strong family component, as his partner, a professional pedagogue, is actively involved in the school. “She always said her dream was to train people who truly want to learn. And in a nautical school, that’s exactly what happens.”

One of his most exciting projects has been acquiring a 60-ton classic Dutch sailing vessel that will serve as a training ship. Beyond teaching how to handle a boat, Pedro wants young people to discover the many professions connected to the sea. “It’s the perfect vessel to teach the sea to all those young people who want to begin their professional journey.”

Because, in his view, living on an island requires maintaining a connection with the sea. “I believe that living on an island, we cannot turn our backs on the sea.” He adds a reflection that sums up his vision of the nautical world: “Mallorca doesn’t live off tourism. It lives off its nature, which is what attracts tourism. That’s why it must be protected.”