Benito is the man of the sea and the owner of a smooth white boat with an outboard motor.  Every day he stood in his boat as it took him over the sea to other side of the bay to buy his newspaper and have a quick coffee with his beachside amigos. Then his little white boat would return with Benito ready to take up his position as ‘The Boss’ of all he surveyed.

Benito had his place on the sand, a couple of chairs and an umbrella was his office, in front of a fleet of pedalos.  His early morning was taken up by cleaning the sand then setting up the beach beds and umbrellas. The front-line beds were often pre booked and he knew exactly who was there and if they had paid.

Benito was born to this world. His father, in early days Mallorca tourism began the ‘beds on the beach’ which is now a feature everywhere.  His Dad, made by hand, the first four wooden sunbeds which appeared in the Port of Soller.  

Benito began this life at age 13 and it was to become his career, his passion and sometimes his irritation.  Benito knows every inch of the coastline and all the creatures who live in it.  He knew how to treat the stings and bites and had advice and treatment for all.  He attended accidents and fatalities on the beach and in later years was assisted by the lifeguards. He has a profound respect for the sea and watched every day for tell-tale signs of trouble.  Tornados and mighty seas went alongside summers of calm. The small tsunamis of the Repic beach were always memorable.

Everyone who used the Repic Beach knew Benito.  They were reassured when they returned every year to see him there looking after the shoreline and the sunbeds. 

Then, one day he wasn’t there.  A corporation took over the running of the beach services and Benito was forced to retire.

These days he is enjoying his retirement and supporting children’s local sports.  He is not found so often by the sea…