So she decided that while she had the time, she would postpone her studies in biomedical science and molecular biology and spend the next few years sailing and teaching children how to sail.
The 19-year-old’s active involvement in the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation, where she teaches children and teenagers how to sail, has earned her a nomination in this year’s WA Young Achiever Awards.
Ms Haynes said her favourite place to sail was up to Monkey Mia, which can take up to seven days to reach from Perth.
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READ NOWShe is already an experienced campaigner, completing 300 days at sea.
Her other plans include heading to New Zealand later this month to begin sailing around the country, which Ms Haynes describes as a lot rougher and windier than Australian waters.
All her sailing experience has made her more confident about sailing at night.
“At night, it was scary when I first started, but you get used to it and it just becomes home. At night, you just do what you need to do to keep the ship running,” she said.
Ms Haynes works part-time as a first-aid officer while she pursues her love of sailing, working at sporting events and concerts, and she says it requires similar skills to sailing, like staying calm in a crisis.
The former Willetton Senior High School student was nominated for the Community Service and Volunteering Award, one of six categories in the WA Young Achiever Awards.
“I was pretty excited and it’s kind to be recognised for what we have done,” Ms Haynes said of her nomination.
“I started volunteering when I was 16 and have been doing it ever since.”