The Crew

Keeps TOPLICHT on course as the first woman at the helm. Master's degree in International Management, grew up on the Elbe beach in Oevelgönne, owner of a small flat-bottomed boat.

Gesa Thönnessen
Management

Many years of experience in woodworking and customer consulting – with TOPLICHT for 25 years. The calm voice on the phone.

Christian Boese
Technical consulting, order processing

Master of lines, wire, and rope. Active sailor since infancy. Knows practically everyone and everything. No splice too difficult, no rig too high.

Jochen Gnass
Technical consulting for rigging, rope, fittings

As an experienced businesswoman, she maintains excellent relationships with our suppliers and customers. Has been sailing since childhood and, after successfully restoring a tjalk, spends a lot of time on the water.

Anne Bunkus
Head of Purchasing, Consulting

Profession: sailor and hands-on expert – has always been on board at TOPLICHT. Spends weekends sailing the Elbe on the HELENE.

Gunter Kersten
Sales, Engineering, Heating Systems, Seamanship

The sailing Dutchman, always in a good mood. Extensive sailing experience on Atlantic voyages and various vessels of the traditional fleet.

Cees Bel
Purchasing, Technical Consulting, Heating Systems and Customer Support Netherlands

Master sailmaker with regatta and bluewater experience, expert in ropework and sails. Never shies away from a splice. Explores the Baltic Sea with his X-332.

Philipp Belter
Sales, Technical Consulting

As a skilled commercial employee, she ensures at lightning speed that the TOPLICHT shelves are never empty.

Dragana Cosic
Purchasing

Every package is in good hands with him. Colleague with a strong sense of mission.

Klaus Torba
Head of Shipping, Sales

Incoming goods pass through her hands skillfully and routinely.

Antje Blank
Quality Control, Warehouse Management

Sailing businessman with many years of professional experience in metalworking. Owner of a fast classic fiberglass yacht.

Oliver Wolgast
Technical Consulting, Order Processing

Trained electrician, has been on the water since childhood, knows every cable aboard the JOHANNA v. AMRUM.

Gerrit Ruempler
Technical Consulting, Sales, IT

Experienced sailor in the traditional fleet. Carefully watches over our warehouse.

Daniela Sempert
Quality Control, Warehouse Management, Shipping

Warehouse specialist with many years of experience in mail-order watersports retail.

Ronald Hackmann
Warehouse Management, Shipping

Boatbuilder, with TOPLICHT for decades. After a major voyage with his own boat to the Mediterranean, he became a devoted friend of the Greek islands.

Jan Meinecke
Catalog and Photo Editorial, Sales

The Hamburg native loves the north and wooden ships. Restores his Bornholm salmon cutter as meticulously as he oversees TOPLICHT's finances.

Robert Patzwald
Payments, Accounting, Purchasing

Whether sail or steam, wood or steel – as a boatbuilder and textile specialist, she is at home in the maritime world.

Julia Pelz
Order Processing, Technical Consulting

As a freelance graphic designer, she keeps a steady hand on our layout – not just for the catalog.

Merve Ohmes
Editorial, CI/CD

No email and no return is too complicated. In daily contact with customers worldwide.

Tade Köller
Sales

Boatbuilder, industrial engineer, and digital native with experience in e-commerce. Tinkers with an 1980s Comfortina and a Swedish wooden motorboat from the 1960s.

Johannes Schwenger
Purchasing, Process Optimization

The journalist explains even complex topics clearly. As a part-time liveaboard, he is refitting his nearly 60-year-old steel yacht.

Stefan Schorr
Editorial, Technical Consulting

The trained boatbuilder supports customers in the retail store with Spanish cheerfulness and extensive expertise.

Eduardo Onecha
Technical Consulting, Store

Boatbuilder with work experience in Canada. Looks after the paints department and sails a V-dinghy.

Alison Thiel
Editorial, Technical Consulting

His door is open to the entire TOPLICHT crew. He takes care of everything related to personnel.

Arne Tauchmann
Human Resources

Sailed around the world as a journalist. At home on the Baltic Sea with a 45-year-old double-ended boat.

Andreas Fritsch
Editorial, Technical Consulting

Learned to sail on the Alster, signed on with the youth cutter Rasmus 7, and now sails a Bandholm 24. Responsible for the TOPLICHT online shop.

Christian Bonnecke
Editorial, IT

With more than two decades of experience in the watersports industry, in daily contact with our suppliers.

Gisela Meiselbach
Purchasing

The trained sailmaker always finds a solution. Sailed as crew on a youth cutter and an X-79.

Julius Höpken
Sales, Warehouse