AD ASTRA 5.4

Thank you for the best trip ever!

Chris Mitchell’s 50th Birthday

January 17–24, 2026

Beni & Ziggy,



Thank you for taking such great care of us. We loved our time on Ad Astra with you. Your energy was perfect, the food was delicious, and the fun was non-stop!



— Char & Chris



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Beni & Ziggy,



Thank you so much for such great care of us this week. The food, the drinks, the laughs, and the stories — we miss you already!



Much love,

Kathleen & Dave



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Beni & Ziggy,



Thanks for an amazing week! Food, drinks, beach, snorkel, sharks — ever make it to Chicago, let’s get together!!!



— Ken & Andrea



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Thank you for the best trip ever!



— Kassy & Max

We made everlasting memories

Hunt Family

Dec 29 – Jan 7, 2026



Thank you for a wonderful trip.

We made everlasting memories. Hope to see you again soon.



P.S. Beni – Food was amazing!



— Lindsay Hunt



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Beni & Ziggy,



Thank you both so much for making our trip so memorable. Everything was great!



Matt Hunt



P.S. Zig, thanks for all the great photos along the way.

June 2025

Sincere thanks and appreciation for everything you have done for us this past month.  You both were beyond amazing, you are both so great at your jobs, and you are also such nice genuine people who really take pride in everything you do.  We are so grateful (and lucky) that we landed you two as our crew this past month.  As I’ve told you multiple times, you both made our trip special.  So special, that when we come back for a month next year, we can’t imagine not having you with us.  



We have so much respect for you both, and for how hard you work all day every day.  As we wrote in the Borrowed Bounty book, you represent your company so well, they should be very proud and appreciative to have you on their team.



We view you both as friends at this point and look forward to staying in touch between now and our trip back to BVI next May.  We wish you both the very best, and if there is every anything we can do for you please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

 

Thanks again for making this trip so memorable!

May 2025

Thank you for an amazing charter. You are the best team!



Stijn – your food is out of this world. You have a true gift for combining flavors while accommodating allergies and preferences with ease.



Evanne – we couldn’t have asked for a more skilled and patient captain. You took us to fantastic locations, and we always felt safe.



Together, you are a power team!

May 2025

Dear Captain Evanne & Chef Stijn,

Sincere thanks for making our charter so memorable and special. Evanne, your positive attitude, constant smile, and exceptional customer service made it an absolute pleasure to sail with you. You are a highly knowledgeable and competent captain, and we always felt completely safe with you at the helm.



Stijn, your food was impeccable. We looked forward to every single meal. The way you combined flavors and presented each dish made us feel like we were dining in a different five-star restaurant every day. Thank you so much for taking such thoughtful care with our daughter’s food allergies as well—it meant the world to us.



Evanne and Stijn, over the course of our month-long stay, you became more than our crew—you became our friends. Every day brought something new, and you graciously adapted to our last-minute plan changes. The month flew by far too quickly.



We highly recommend you to anyone lucky enough to have you as part of their crew. Your company is incredibly fortunate to have you representing them. We wish you both all the very best, and if there’s ever anything we can do for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

May 2025

Evanne & Stijn

We can’t thank you enough for your outstanding hospitality. The amazing meals, top-notch service, and your warm company made our trip to the BVI unforgettable. We truly hope we have the privilege of sailing with you again on future adventures.

May 2025

Dear Evanne & Stijn,

Thank you both for an amazing week in the BVI. From the moment we arrived, you made us feel like family and true members of the crew. You both did an incredible job in every aspect of our trip. You’ve made me even more excited to return to the BVI in the future.

May 2025

Evanne & Stijn

Our experience on this boat was amazing! I’ll never forget waking up and smelling the delicious food Stijn has prepared. As for Evanne, you always brought us different places and ensured that everything is fun and exciting. Both of you have incredible knowledge about the boat. I don’t know how you do it! My favorite thing that Stijn made for dinner was the lobster. So good! Also your desserts are the perfect thing to come after a meal, they are delicious! Finally, thank you for making sure we felt safe on this boat. My family felt safe and secure and had an incredible time. Thank you for taking amazing care of us!

May 2025

Evanne & Stijn



Thank you for another great week in the BVI. You planned an excellent itinerary and worked diligently to make sure we had the best experience. The Borrowed Bounty was a new boat for you as a crew, and when there were A/C and generator issues, you never gave up and worked hard to resolve them—all while still making sure we were well fed and enjoying each location!



Evanne, you always found the best mooring spots and you are both kind and joyful. 



Stijn, your meals were incredible! We felt like we toured the world through your cuisine. You catered excellently to dietary restrictions while maintaining variety and incredible flavor in each meal.



Overall, we loved how well you worked together. It was a blast getting to know each of you—we look forward to more trips in the future!

April 2025

What an adventure!



Pre-trip communications were easy, thorough and excellent. Stijn and Evanne organized a Zoom permeating to meet/greet, discuss menus and preferences regarding activities and destinations. They arranged reservations for meals out, transfers and logistics. They incorporated our preferences and provided alternate suggestions.



Evanne’s professional ability and maturity are beyond her age. Winds gusting to 30 knots were abnormally strong. Her seamanship and marine critical judgement exhibited a calm professional demeanor. Her ability to manage many things at once was demonstrated during the maneuvering of the boat in open waters, tights spaces and high winds.



Stijn’s passion for feeding people shines. His scratch cooking with fresh ingredients showcased his culinary knowledge of international cuisine. He adjusted menus to accommodate dietary restrictions. Our group of well-traveled fun-loving seniors have eaten at some of the finest restaurants around the world and have not had such consistently superb meals. He deserves a Michelin star!



Evanne and Stijn worked as a seamless team. They supported each other and the passengers. Their hospitality created a tabling experience that was inviting and inclusive.



We’re coming back to charter with Evanne and Stijn wherever they are!

March 2025

Had the most amazing week on Ad Astra with Evanne and Stijn. We were a party of 10 and the level of service they provided was outstanding. So impressed with both of them. First - Stijn’s prowess in the kitchen is unmatched - we have used chefs before - he is #1 in our book. Evanne’s knowledge and professionalism as our captain was impressive. Not our first charter - would sail with her again.



Their suggestions for excursions were awesome. We had so much fun and I feel they gave us the best of the BVI.



This Boston crew will follow Evanne and Stijn anywhere.

March 2025

Thank you to Evanne and Stijn for an amazing week in the BVIs!



They were absolutely top-notch. The food was incredible, and everyone was happy.



The yummy cocktails offered throughout the trip were a great touch of service, and they truly went above and beyond. Evanne was always calm and confident, making everyone feel safe.



They took us to amazing spots—both off the beaten path and the well-known gems—and we appreciated both.



We’ve done a similar trip before, and we all agreed:



Evanne and Stijn are the very best of the best!



Thank you from all of us!

February 2025

How lucky are we to experience the best crew in the BVI with an incredible boat the Ad Astra.



We are a group of 10, who always felt comfortable and safe while onboard. Evanne is caring, adventurous and so fun! She shared her knowledge and experiences with us and allowed us to experience the best of the BVI. Stijn knew how to amaze us in the galley! We had no idea we’d be eating in a 5-star restaurant each day! He kept our taste buds gong by taking us all around the world with his dishes! Spain, Greek, Italy, plus pops of Korean, wow! Amazing.



Together Stijn and Evanne were at their best. They worked together providing us with a trip that will remain one of our very favorites.



Thank you for the most amazing week, your kindness and care and for sharing your talents with us!

February 2025

Evanne & Stijn



We loved our first sailing adventure—thank you!



Your care, professionalism, and hospitality were unmatched. We feel so fortunate to have had you as our hosts.



Our BVI trip was hands down our best vacation ever!



We had no idea we were in for the most amazing culinary experience.



Evanne and Stijn’s professionalism and hospitality made us feel welcome and safe.



Thank you for making our first BVI trip unforgettable!

January 2025

Evanne and Stijn, Thank you for making this one of the best trips of our lives. Stijn is the best chef I have ever experienced. His food is incredible! Evanne made me feel safe on our boat, and she was also the best party coordinator. Every single day was filled with adventure and more fun than I can put into words. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 

January 2025

Thank you to Ad Astra, Evanne, and Stijn for a wonderful week. You allowed old friends from St. Paul, Milwaukee, and Boston to relive some of our favorite college memories. Your hard work kept us well-fed, safe, and constantly in awe of the beauty of the BVIs. We’ll be telling our friends and family about what a great experience this was—largely because of you!



P.S. No restaurant could ever rival Stijn’s cooking talent! As a team, we especially appreciated Evanne and Stijn’s easygoing approach to life on the water. A perfect week in every way.

January 2025

Our week in the BVI was truly the trip of a lifetime, celebrating 30+ years of friendship. Evanne and Stijn provided such an amazing experience—wonderful hosts of the islands. Every meal was a visual delight, with no detail overlooked. Stijn’s creations will forever change how we approach dining out.



Don’t be fooled by their youthful appearance—they are true experts in the field of hospitality.



Thank you for a wonderful week!

January 2025

Evanne & Stijn,



Thank you for an amazing week in one of the greatest places on earth. The meals on the boat surpassed all the restaurants with amazing healthy variety and detail. You guys make a fantastic team and we wish you a great season of boating! A few more thoughts. You work so well together. You are calm and cool all of the time. Your knowledge of sailing and the islands were so appreciated. We always felt safe. You were both so friendly and nice. We would recommend this vacation to everyone!

January 2025

Evanne & Stijn were the ultimate hosts!



Super friendly, working seamlessly together, patient with our questions, and always smiling!



The food was beyond our expectations—absolutely fabulous. Safety was clearly a top priority, which made us all feel secure and at ease.



Thanks for a thoughtful trip—we’ll never forget the BVI!



Plan on seeing us again.



Well done!! (Superior service)

December 2024

Evanne & Stijn - 



The very best crew in the world! 



Thank you for the best week ever. You spoiled our family of 10 and contributed to our joy filled and memorable trip. Not only were you both very talented and professional crew, but you did it with such a great attitude and brought such joy and happiness to our adventure. 



Our family of 10 can be challenging to deal with at times but your patience and understanding were fantastic. 



Thank you for the best week ever! We love you and thank you for the best food, the most fun and the greatest adventures we've ever had!

April 2024

Grant & Ulrika,



This trip was my favorite trip I've ever been on. The food was absolutely incredible, words can't describe how much I loved it. Tubing was soooo much fun but I was scared for my life. I wish I could never leave. I hope you remember us!! We will be back. You made this place feel like home.



You guys were so kind and were so fun. Grant going tubing with you was the best you were whipping us around and we said many things while tubing. Ulrika I don't even know how to start with your cooking. It was the most/best food I have ever had. Going on this boat was the best thing I've ever done. I had the most fun in my life ever. You guys were so interactive and were so nice. I loved to be able to tell you stories of our days and set the table which I wish I did more. I hope you will be able to make more memories with you guys. 



Thank you for an amazing week! Our family had a wonderful time, everything was perfect. You outdid yourselves from the hospitality, itinerary and delicious food. We hope to cross paths with you again soon! Please stay in touch and find us in Annapolis!



You guys are THE BEST! You created such an incredibly memorable trip! Thank you for everything!

March 2024

Broker Feedback:



THANK YOU for a fantastic charter for my clients last week!  The clients were delighted with their charter with you.  They said it was a “10 out of 10”, you “were great" and they "would love to sail with you again”, AD ASTRA was “absolutely” comfortable, clean and well ventilated, and the cuisine you provided was “maybe the best part”!  Overall, they said “It was a great experience”!   



- Charter Broker, March 2024 for 7 nights with 10 adults. 

February 2024

The most incredible memory of a lifetime to celebrate my sons 30th birthday with our whole family! All was perfect, super clean and extremely comfortable. Plenty of various places to relax, had a very homey feel. The meals were outstanding. Ulrika was by far the best chef we have ever had. They were so attentive to our needs. The crepe birthday cake was magnificent! And sushi nigh....WOW!



Grant and Ulrika were not only an amazing crew, we truly felt like we formed a new friendship. They were incredible!! We miss them already!!

February 2024

Ulrika and Grant - A special thanks to the two of you for a wonderful week, you both made it all so special. The food was fabulous. What a chef! The sightseeing and Grant's captaining the boat was the best. Grant - I give you a special thank you for getting me on and off the boat. Wishing you both the best in your future.





Ulrika and Grant - I wish you many more travels. You both have provided to us a warm, wonderful experience. You should be most proud of your hard work. You make it seem effortless. I couldn't have felt more cared for. A vacation to treasure.

January 2024

Ulrika & Grant, 

The "10 Topp 'G' Crew" had an awesome family trip in the BVIs! You 2 exceeded all our expectations. This was our 3rd catamaran trip and the boat & crew was by far the best of any! Grant & Ulrika, thank you so much for treating each of our family members and making them all feel so special! Food was innovative & Creative and we thought we were in a Michelin star restaurant! Drinks were awesome! Thank you for our family Christmas trip!