Family & Crew.

Family
& Crew.

Tallship Florette is operated by the Haynes family, who have lived and worked aboard the vessel since 1978. Florette is a working wooden brigantine built in Italy in 1921, sailed and maintained through continuous operation. The ship is run as an active sailing vessel, with daily responsibility shared across family and crew.

Captain Ron Haynes commands Florette today, having grown up on board and learned traditional seamanship through years at sea. He runs the ship alongside his wife Nicole, First Mate, whose naval training supports navigation, safety, and onboard operations. Their responsibilities cover route planning, crew coordination, and the practical running of the vessel.

Their daughters, Jaden and Amber, were raised on deck and learned navigation, watchkeeping, and shipboard routines as part of life aboard. Amber is now training toward her captain’s qualifications, while Jaden is pursuing an engineering career. Lucy, the ship’s Lagotto Romagnolo, is also part of daily life on board. The wider crew forms a long-standing international team.

Wawane, bosun from Indonesia, has worked aboard for over a decade and brings more than 20 years of ocean sailing experience. Nafi, able seaman for many years, contributes the same depth of seamanship and reliability. Lukas, a boatbuilder and sailing instructor from Bavaria, supports maintenance and training, and Tanya from the Netherlands, a licensed captain, leads marketing and social media. Together, the team operates hands-on sailing voyages and private charters, welcoming guests to take part in practical sailing and shared life on board.