Permanent Crew

Josef Dvorský 1971

Majitel a zakladatel projektu stavby i plaveb na této lodi. Kvalifikace Yachtmaster Ocean – A (bez omezení plavby), instruktor jachtingu a zkušební komisař MDČR. Jachtařem je od roku 1982 a profesionálním kapitánem od roku 1992.

He has well over 300.000 NM under his belt. Besides the qualifications gained at the Czech Ministry of Transport, he was trained for sailing square-rigged ships in England, on the sail training ship Royalist. He grew up with La Grace from the day she came into being and is the captain on most of her voyages.

Marek Turba 1976

Marek has several voyages behind him as a sailor on La Grace, but his main contribution is the constant monitoring of the weather around the ship. His forecasts had a great deal to do with La Grace's excellent results in the Tall Ship Races. In August 2023 he tried out his first voyage as captain of La Grace, from Elba to Sardinia. After a long search I have finally found someone able to look after the ship for me for 5 weeks, which makes me very happy indeed. Congratulations.

Filip Dvorský 2005

A captain from birth, he already has far more than 50.000 NM under his belt. La Grace was his home, and but for compulsory schooling it would certainly have stayed that way for good. Even so, he spends every school holiday and every spare day of term on our ship. He has held a small craft licence (VMP) since he was 16, a coastal skipper's licence C since 18 and an area B qualification since 19. His proud father believes the ship's future lies in his bond with her, which is why Filip has been training as a captain for many years now. It is comical to watch the marines' faces when a 15-year-old captain brings the colossus that is La Grace alongside. What he has not learned on La Grace he practises as captain of his own two-masted ship, Faraon.

Since 2021 he has sailed in his free time from grammar school, and he is the youngest bosun ever to have served on La Grace. He broke the same age record again in 2025, as captain of La Grace at just 19.

Jirka „Medvěd“ Štancl 1962

Jirka came to La Grace in 2020, when we badly needed help from a diver. He grew so attached to the ship that year that he decided to train with us as a captain. He has captained La Grace in Porto Azzurro on the island of Elba, and also in the port of Palermo in Sicily. He holds a category B captain's qualification from the Czech Ministry of Transport. Before that he sailed on the 30-metre ship Bella and on a number of ordinary charter boats. As a diving instructor (EDS) he looks after the cleanliness of La Grace's hull below the waterline, and after anyone interested in diving courses.

P.S.: Once he stops holding me up on his holidays and has sailed the voyages he has planned for 2024, I will move him back to the permanent crew, into the position where he belongs.

Milan „Panák“ Štefan 1962

Vyprojektoval, postavil a mnoho let se plaví po jezerech celé Evropy na pravděpodobně největší nafukovací brize na světě – lodi Berounka. Na La Grace je od roku 2013 a díky jeho rukám najdete na lodi mnoho krásných dobových prvků v lanoví. Kromě oprav La Grace ve Španělsku prošla jeho rukama i hlavou rekonstrukce takeláže v roce 2015. Posádky o něm tvrdí, že je jediný spravedlivý na lodi, protože je pořád a na každého naštvaný stejně. Jeho „sakra pes“ už nesmazatelně vešlo do našich slovníků.

Maxim „Ragnar“ Makarov 1974

Bosun and organiser of the Russian crews. A very capable and hard-working sailor, and a cheerful, friendly chap. Besides his voyages on La Grace, every summer he sails as skipper of a Viking longship in harsh conditions far to the north.

Very probably he will soon become the captain of La Grace for Russian groups of sailors. His sea voyages in 2020/21 were interrupted by Covid, and in 2022 by the war in Ukraine. :-( But all of us, and La Grace herself, hope that he will be back soon!

Jiří Holý 1967

Jirka was the find of 2019. Hard-working, quick to learn and above all a friendly chap who dreamed of sailing the seas back in the days of the Victorka, he fitted into our group fast. When he swims in the sea towed behind the ship on a line, he looks like Aquaman.

Petr Novák 1978

Petr found himself on our ship. After only a few cadet voyages, thanks to his interest in everything around him and his natural appetite for work, he quickly and deservedly made it all the way to the post of bosun in 2019, and although he missed the 2022/2023 seasons for personal reasons, he still works and sails with us to this day.

Milan „Orky“ Dus 1983

Milan has been sailing on La Grace since 2018. In civilian life he makes his living as a programmer, but he has skilful hands and a heart that beats for this ship. His hobbies are climbing and tying all sorts of knots, and that comes in very handy here. :-)

Adam „ Elf“ Jirka 1978

He started sailing with us right from the ship's christening in Athens in 2011. Even before that he did a great deal of work making the rig for La Grace in Valašské Meziříčí. As a swordsman (and a member of the Abbaca group) he has a natural affinity for voyages on a historical ship. He has been sailing as a bosun, as far as his time allows, since 2019.

Jiří „Jori“ Pertl

In 2019 an enthusiastic cadet became a bosun. It is a great pity that he does not have more time to sail with us. In his free time he sews beautiful things out of leather and is excellent at curing dried meat.

Boris Kaliský 1982

He joined the crew of La Grace in March 2013 and took part in the repairs in Spain, where, besides running around with an angle grinder, he organised the purchase of lead, new life-saving equipment, the ship's insurance, interpreting and so on. Before that he spent a long time studying film and international relations, and worked for 9 years at the Forum 2000 Foundation, where he organised large conferences. He sailed on the ship until 2013, first as a cadet and later, in 2014, as a bosun. He got married on La Grace and went off into civilian life with his sweetheart. :-D In 2019, though, his parental leave came to an end and so he is sailing on La Grace again as a bosun.

Ondra Lerch 1980

In Brno he puts out fires; with us he climbs the yards. He has been a bosun since 2022, but before that he already had several years of voyages behind him, and of hard work in the yard during our repairs.

Agatha Renotiere 2000

Na La Grace přišla v roce 2016 na festival Escale a Sete ve Francii na pomoc s tlumočením a už nám tu zůstala v rámci všeho svého volného času. Srdcem pirátka a duší součást lodi na sobě makala tak dlouho, až jsme si plavby bez ní přestali umět představit. Postupem času to dotáhla až na pozici Deckleader, ale do paměti všech nezletilých kadetů se zapsala hlavně jako vedoucí našich dětských námořních táborů. Od roku 2022 už byla pomocnicí bocmana a od roku 2023 i historicky prvním dobrým „bocmanem v sukni“. Na ženu slušná, ale rozhodně zasloužená kariéra v tak chlapském oboru, jako je námořník a pirát. Velká gratulace.

Radek Novotný

He is an occasional member of La Grace's permanent crew, even though he has been with the ship almost since the very first voyages. He is interested in history and mostly takes part in the longer, costumed voyages. He was involved in the founding of the La Grace museum in Terezín.

Maxim Novák

If I asked you this Novák's nationality, I am sure you would not guess it. But that is not important. What matters most is that he fell in love with La Grace on his very first voyage, and she with him. He worked hard, drew on his experience from our partner ship Shtandart, and he will certainly be a bosun here before long.

Lukáš Hron 1984

He has sailed on La Grace since 2014, and the ship grew so close to his heart that he later came back on board as an engineer. The electrical wiring on La Grace is largely Lukáš's work. Thanks to him everything on the ship lights up, blinks and sounds as it should. And even when he is not on board, he at least helps the other engineers with the electrics over the phone. Thank you.

Marek Rygel and Radim Rygel 1996 and 1991

These two capable brothers sell tractors in Silesia in their spare time, but they got their feel for the sea and their experience on the ship Bella when they were small boys. Their father owned her and they sailed the waters around Elba. Since 2021, whenever they are tinkering in our engine room, La Grace has been drooling with contentment. They both missed the 2023 season, but we hope they will be back on board.

Ondřej Slavík 1979

He has worked on La Grace since 2019 and he loves the ship because he loves history and costumes. Before we shut him in the engine room, he sailed with us several times as a cadet. At the time he probably had no idea he would end up here as an engineer. He has a fine touch with engines.

Matěj Grulya 1982

By the winter of 2023 I had completely stopped believing I would ever meet a young man who can work with his hands and enjoys it. Then it happened.

Martin Hladík 1970

He has been working with us as an engineer since 2023 and he is good at it. La Grace likes him, because he looks after her well and keeps her running nicely.

Patrik Havel 1978

Patrik also joined La Grace in 2023, on the very first voyage of his life. In civilian life he works as a carpenter, and people like that are always useful to us on board. With what he has on his chin, his head and his back, he has replaced the irreplaceable Ivo and looks like the handsomest pirate among us.

Tomaš Bartulec 1984

He has been sailing on La Grace since 2021, but he only dared to take on the engineer's job in 2023. Thank heavens for his hands! There have never been enough pirates on board who understand electrics and electronics.

David „Igor“ Havránek 1995

I do not know whether an aircraft mechanic is wasted on La Grace, but one thing is certain: people who work on planes and people who work on ships have something in common. And so since 2023 he has been an occasional engineer.

Agáta Kestřánková

Times are changing, and so even a dinosaur like me has to get used to the fact that girls are increasingly making their way in typically manly positions. But why not, when they have got what it takes! Agáta is good proof of that. She came to us in 2024 and fitted in straight away. She enjoys manual work and she is good at it, so La Grace likes her too. And she is definitely the prettiest of all our engineers! :-)

Čestmír „Ježek“ Pohanka 1966

Česťa is clear proof that you can fall in love with La Grace for life. They share not only the same date of birth but also a great many miles sailed together. Although his civilian job is miles away from cooking, he became a professional in the galley so that he could be with the ship as much as possible. On voyages he also excels as a deckleader and bosun's mate. Thanks to him and his camera, instructional videos for our newcomers keep appearing. Many thanks.

Láďa „Black“ Drin 1984

He came to our ship as a cadet in 2015, on the Atlantic voyage around Portugal, and La Grace captivated him so much that he began helping her wherever he could. Thank you. Over many more voyages it became clear that he was one of us. With his experience from the water scouts and children's camps, and with his own particular sense of humour, he quickly fitted into the group, and he has been cooking on board since 2022. He also brings meaty treats to the ship.

Jan „Kydla“ Kydlíček 1992

Honza came to us as a cadet in 2021, but almost at once he started applying for the cook's job, because he loves cooking. In his free time he travels the world and even takes unpaid work in some local kitchen just to watch the local cooks at work. His cooking is hard to judge, because it is very unusual, partly because he uses all sorts of unconventional spices. Young people who did not come to the ship to eat Czech classics find his food very much to their taste. His cooking on La Grace in 2022-23 was interrupted by a long journey to the southern hemisphere, but we will be seeing him on board again soon.

Libuše Žáková 1960

She has spent her whole life in kitchens of every kind: from hotels through works canteens to children's camps. She likes cooking and she is really good at it. She came to La Grace in the summer of 2023 thanks to her son, who had been here and told her about the ship. Being an adventurous sort, she signed up for a voyage straight away, and went straight into the galley. She is cheerful and friendly and she fitted into the permanent crew quickly.

Bronislava Nierostková 1975

Although she had sailed on the ship before as a cadet, her first baptism in the galley came in the summer of 2023. And she started very well. Her superb potato pancakes were appreciated by the ship's captain among others, and her pancakes by all the children at the pirate camp. In time she showed that she can season more than just flat food beautifully, and so we are very fond of her here.

Julie Vokůrková 1980

She came to the island of Elba in 2023 to cook at a campsite. As we kept sailing past under her windows, one word led to another and she turned up in our galley, on her very first voyage. Easy-going and a great companion for any bit of fun, she soon won the hearts of cadets and permanent crew alike. And above all their stomachs. In 2025 she took a break from cooking in our galley for family reasons, but we all hope she will come back.

Marta Nedvědová 1971

I have sailed with Marta many times in various corners of the world, and although she is happy at sea anywhere, she has taken a particular liking to La Grace. She loves horses, and in fact every stray animal she comes across; her house is full of them. And just as she can look after them, she can look after our permanently hungry cadets.

Věra Tannerová 1975

You are most likely to meet Věrka not on board but by e-mail or over the phone, when booking a voyage on La Grace. She will gladly advise you on everything and explain it all. Věrka is an invaluable part of the La Grace team. At La Grace s.r.o. she looks after taxes.

Petr Tanner 1973

Helmsman and co-owner of the ship. A great guy, a pirate and a mate for rough weather. He helped the ship a great deal financially in Egypt and with work in Spain, and it is worth mentioning that his daughter Eliška is La Grace's godmother. A great support in his life and in La Grace's is his wife Věrka, without whom La Grace would not currently be what she is economically.

Vilém Pavlica 1960

But for Vilda, La Grace might never have existed. In 2009-2010 this chap from Wallachia took on all the woodwork that could be made outside Egypt and sent it to us in a container for the build in Africa. Later, too, he helped wherever he could, as far as his circumstances allowed. The rigging, the blocks, the cleats and much else besides are his work.

Pepa Dvořák 1978

Pepa came on a voyage as a cadet, but you know how it goes. You show that you are good at something, and because La Grace badly needs people like that, before long your workshop is making whatever the ship needs :-) His work includes the beautiful frigate stern, the rope chests and the barrels, but also many other things inside and out.

Milan Studnička 1979

Milan also turned up here as a cadet, but because he is a professional carpenter, he helped us with a whole lot of structural elements, making sure they actually worked. His by far greatest achievement on our ship is the new teak deck.

drevostavbystudnicka.cz

Petr Scheirich

As our first ship's navigator he took La Grace across the Atlantic Ocean using the stars alone. He builds period navigational instruments such as the octant, the hand lead and the log. He has been a great enthusiast for La Grace from the very beginning and has many voyages and spells of volunteer work behind him that have helped the ship enormously. What keeps him from sailing more often is mainly his work at the Ondřejov observatory.

Jindřich Vodrážka

Besides many voyages as a cadet, as boatswain he commanded in English a complete crew of Italians serving on La Grace as crew members from HMS Amphion. These days he devotes more time to his family than to La Grace, but even so we all believe he will be back on board soon.

Tomáš Novotný

Externí první důstojník na lodi La Grace. Plavil se s námi při závodech Tall Ships Race v roce 2013 i 2015. Vystudoval námořní školu v Barceloně a pomáhá nám vyřizovat námořní záležitosti v zahraničí ve španělštině. Prima kluk a parťák.