Arruno Exploration  "A dream we live together."

The name Arruno is a combination of our children’s names: Arne, Ruben, and Noor. It reflects who we are, a family at home on the sea, with Tallship Saeftinghe at the heart of our story.

One family. Two captains.

Mike has more than 28 years of experience as a captain and spends an average of 200 days a year at sea. What once started as a boyhood dream of sailing towards the High North grew into a life shaped by offshore races, ocean crossings and expeditions into Arctic waters.

Today, Mike shares the helm of Saeftinghe with his son Ruben.

Ruben may be young, but his age tells only a small part of his story. He grew up at sea and gained experience from an early age during long offshore passages and voyages through the Arctic. Responsibility, changing conditions and life aboard a sailing ship have always been part of his world.

After graduating in Nautical Sciences from the Antwerp Maritime Academy, Ruben became the second fully qualified captain aboard Saeftinghe. His ambition now reaches far beyond navigating the ship. Together with our family, he wants to help shape the future of Arruno Exploration and dedicate his life to creating experiences that people will carry with them long after they step ashore.

Shaped by the sea

The idea for Arruno Exploration grew during Mike’s years as a skipper in offshore sailing races and ocean voyages. He experienced how challenging conditions bring people closer together. At sea, you learn to rely on each other, take responsibility and adapt when nature changes the plan.

The sea humbles you. It makes you vulnerable, but it also creates trust, deep connections and room for personal growth.

In a world that keeps moving faster, there is a growing need to slow down and reconnect with what truly matters. The sea creates that space. It is vast, honest and never completely predictable.

For us, sailing is about much more than travelling from one place to another. It means feeling the power of nature, working towards a common goal and facing whatever the journey brings together. Aboard Saeftinghe, you do not simply watch the landscape pass by. You become part of the voyage.

You help shape the experience, share life at sea and discover not only new horizons, but often new sides of yourself and the people travelling beside you.

With Arruno Exploration, we invite people into a world that cannot be fully planned or staged, a world shaped by the sea, the people aboard and the moments that happen along the way.

One family. Two captains. One shared dream.

Out of the ordinary!