Meet the Crew

Captain Barry John Miller

was given the choice of a surf board or Optimist dingy when he was eight years old. Growing up in Durban, South Africa where water sports and beach life are huge, its no surprise that these were his choices and of course no surprise as to which one he chose. Barry has been sailing the blue waters of the ocean ever since. He spent his youth sailing and racing along the coast of Southern Africa and Mozambique. He has sailed in many off shore events and was sponsored when he was nineteen by Lipton Tea to sail in the 2000 and 2004 Lipton cup. He has also spent time sailing the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, spending a great deal of time in Charleston and Fort Lauderdale. Barry has an MCA Master of Yachts 200 ton license; he also has his South African Costal Skippers License, an STCW 95 (i.e. trained in first aid, survival at sea and fire fighting skills) and is a qualified Padi Divemaster.

Bridget Nicole Kane-Berman

was also born and raised in sunny, beautiful Durban. She achieved her degree Cum Laude in Media, Communications and Legal studies. Bridget has always had a wonderful zest for life and love for people and she had secretly always been in love with the islands. Having never left South Africa before, Bridget took the challenge of leaving her home town to enter the yachting industry with her long time beau Barry. "It was easy to be seduced...by the islands" Bridget said. When they arrived they got work on a 45ft Royal Cape Catamaran. The company they worked for sold club memberships to guests on board, so it was up to this dynamic duo to create the experience of a lifetime. "Our previous charter work was excellent experience, we got to work on numerous yachts in the beautiful waters of Antigua, St. Maarten, Bequia and of course the British Virgin Islands." The team fell in love with the islands and knew that the B.V.I's was the place for them. Bridget says that 'there is just so much beauty here and everything is close, so it makes for very flexible sailing and chartering".Bridget has a RYA day skipper license and is also a Padi Dive Master. She is currently completing a catering diploma through the University of Penn Foster.

Bridget has always had a passion for food and enjoys eating out at different restaurants and trying new things in the galley. Some of her earliest memories are of her and her friends making a mess of her mom's kitchen while making pancakes and cupcakes. She feels that her food is a fusion of many cuisines with an over all Caribbean influence. She has a 7 day meal plan on this site and encourages all guests to glance over it, to aid them in filling in their preference sheets. She is very flexible and happy to nip and tuck her meal plan to suit your needs or children's needs. She cooks with a very health conscious mind, using low fat, low sodium and low salt products in her food. She says she is very careful after having personally experienced her jeans tightening after too much good charter food! But, she warns guests that she won't hold back on the delicious desserts!

The two have been chartering since 2005 and became crew of the gorgeous Ad Astra in 2007. They would like to welcome people of all ages to experience the glory of these islands on this beautiful luxurious yacht. It is their dream to show you the best vacation of your life and they are determined to for fill your every wish. "We really want people to leave here as in love with islands as we are," Captain Barry says.

Barry & Bridget are extremely flexible, energetic and hard working. They are more than happy to for fill your ideal charter and do everything possible to ensure that your dreams become reality. Bridget is always remarking on how Barry is such a wonderful captain to work with. "He really makes an effort to deliver the charter you want. He will sit with you every morning, bring out the chart and listen to your suggestions or provide his own if you are unsure. Whether you're after famous haunts, secluded coves, great hikes, superb diving/ snorkeling, long white beaches, calm bays for water sports and amazing star gazing he will take you there".

So what are you waiting for? Come and sail with us and reach for the stars on Ad Astra, the breath taking scenery and never ending sunsets awaits you!