Meet the Captain of Schooner Ladona

February 11, 2026

Captain J. R. Braugh

Step aboard the Schooner LADONA and you’ll immediately feel a spirit of adventure, heritage, and relaxed elegance. That atmosphere begins with the people behind the vessel: her captain and co-owner, J. R. Braugh, and co-owners Jane and Noah Barnes. In 2014, the trio joined forces to acquire and restore the 1922 Maine-built ocean racing schooner. She relaunched in 2016 with a new mission to deliver a windjammer experience blending classic tradition with yacht-like comfort.

With deep maritime roots, decades of sailing experience, and the perseverance of a seasoned entrepreneur, Captain J. R. has helped the vessel find success. He leads LADONA as her full-time captain. He also served as designer and project manager during her two-year restoration, helping shape the vessel’s rebirth from the keel up.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area near San Jose, J. R.’s maritime heritage runs generations deep. His grandfather graduated from Cal Maritime and served as First Officer on Pacific liners in the 1930s, including the MATSONIA, flagship of the legendary Matson Line. His great-grandfather was a navigator aboard the four-masted barque ANNIE M. REID, rounding Cape Horn under sail during World War I. Today, J. R. still uses his great-grandfather’s brass dividers to plot charts—a daily connection to the mariners in his family.

Before schooner life, J. R. worked in business development and marketing at a Paul Allen-backed internet startup in Portland, Oregon. That experience taught him the patience and determination needed to build something lasting and those skills proved essential during LADONA’s restoration.

He’s no stranger to Maine waters either. Over the past 25 years, J.R. has captained several iconic windjammers including MISTRESS, GRACE BAILEY, MERCANTILE, LEWIS R. FRENCH, STEPHEN TABER, and J. & E. RIGGIN. He now also serves on the board of the historic 1917 schooner MERCANTILE, working with former windjammer captain Jim Sharp and others to preserve Maine’s sailing heritage. J. R. holds a USCG 200-Ton Master’s license.

J. R.’s guiding philosophy is simple: offer guests a fun, comfortable, and enriching escape while showcasing the breathtaking beauty of coastal Maine and its 3,000 islands. One of J. R.’s greatest points of pride is his crew. Many former windjammer shipmates have gone on to earn their Merchant Marine credentials and now help lead the next generation of traditional sailing in Maine. These include (among many others) soon-to-be-famous captains: Nick, Jenny, Gus, Sabrina, Tristan, Hannah, Pepper, Becky, Tyler, Casey, Maria, and Allysa.

Whether it’s your first time on board or you’re a seasoned windjammer guest, you’re in excellent and passionate hands with Captain J. R. Braugh.