Captain: Pavlos-Angelos Filippakis
Captain Pavlos hails from the secluded coastal village of Loutro in Crete, accessible solely by sea. Embracing his family's maritime heritage, he embarked on a career in the merchant navy at the age of eighteen.
After a decade of service and having earned his Unlimited Tonnage Master, he transitioned to the yachting sector, commencing his tenure aboard the explorer yacht ITASCA. His pursuit to see the farthest reaches of this world brought him to ASTERIA, where he has been since September 2023.
In his free time, he studies to become an ice pilot, enjoys diving and volunteers as a paramedic. He enjoys listening to stories from old salts and has a few of his own. History is always a favorite subject.
First Officer: Christopher Penner
Originally from Canada, Chris started out as a scuba instructor in 2004 spending the next 9 years on various Caribbean islands. With his time spent on boats, Chris got his 200 Ton yacht master and became First Mate of the Aqua Cat live aboard in the Bahamas.
After making trip videos for that boat, Chris decided to go to film school and work in the Vancouver film industry, as well as teaching film production at Shanghai University between 2013 and 2019. During this time, Chris realized that if he’s going to work long hours, he might as well be doing it in beautiful places again and decided to get back into boating in 2019 as the Mate on board a 100-foot yacht. He spent a couple more years as Mate on two other yachts and then upgraded his license to MCA Chief Mate 3000 ton, allowing us to hire him earlier this year on Asteria as our Chief Officer! Having spent so much time in the tropics, Chris likes taking his vacations in the mountains to go snowboarding.
2nd Officer: Niksa Kovacevic
Niksa comes from Montenegro and started to sail from an early age. After graduating from Maritime University, he started his seafaring career on a cargo ships. For the last few years he has been working on M/Y ASTERIA. He has a passion for football, gym, and chess. At this moment he is OOW and he has intentions to continue forward with his yachting career.
Lead Deckhand: Joshua Parris
Josh was Born and raised in Barbados, with his family coming from the UK and Canada. His dual citizenship allowed him to leave home at the age of 16 and move to Australia to start his studies in mechanics and welding. Here, he began his travels around the world. At the age of 18, he ventured back into the maritime industry and began his career in yachting as he had always had a deep connection to the sea. Josh began fishing on the Atlantic Ocean as a young boy and started his own commercial fishing business not long after that. He continues to love water activities such as spear-fishing, diving, surfing, and kitesurfing. His island life has shaped his passion for the ocean and everything it offers. With over 7 years of experience in the yachting industry, he has had the privilege of traveling to some of the world’s most beautiful and remote locations, from the Caribbean to The French Polynesia islands and many more amazing places.
As a Deck/Engineer and a very seasoned fisherman, he prides himself on providing exceptional service while ensuring the vessel is maintained to the highest standards. His laid-back, approachable nature makes him a great team player, always eager to share his knowledge and experience with others while ensuring guests have the most memorable experience on their journey with M/Y ASTERIA.
Deckhand: Fotis Chatziadam
Fotis is from Greece and began his career on the ocean in 2012 when he obtained his speed boat license, working as a water ski instructor for six years. Seeking new challenges, Fotis transitioned to skippering, leading daily and weekly cruises across the Aegean Sea with a focus on the Cyclades and Mykonos aboard yachts ranging from 40-80 feet. Last year, Fotis achieved the prestigious Yacht Master Offshore 200GT certification, allowing him to pursue opportunities on larger vessels. Now, Fotis is proud to be part of the crew aboard M/Y ASTERIA, bringing his extensive experience and love for the sea to your charter adventure.
Chief Stewardess: Rebecca Discaya
Rebecca hails from a large family of eleven in Sorsogon, Philippines. She now lives in Manila with her husband and fur-babies. She wanted to travel the world and seized the opportunity to work on passenger cruise ships. After a year, she pursued a career in yachting, gaining her first position as stewardess aboard the 147m luxurious mega-yacht Prince Abdul-Aziz, owned by the King of Saudi Arabia. She then worked aboard charter and private yachts, as well as the research vessel OceanXplorer. Rebecca was born in a magnificent district of Bicol known for its beauty. Her home is one of the world's seven wonders, complete with the flawless cone of the Mayon volcano and the hottest chili in the country. During her free time, she enjoys watching movies doing outdoor activities, diving and spending time with her family.
2nd Stewardess: Elvie Ora
Elvie is originally from Bohol, Philippines, and holds a degree in hotel and restaurant management. She got her first job as a service stewardess on M/Y Alexander. Exceeding guests' expectations has always been goal as a stewardess. She finally advanced to Dining Supervisor aboard a 147 motor yacht. She enjoys traveling and meeting new people, and she is constantly fascinated by their culture. When she is at home, she spends time with her nephews and nieces. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, reading books, watching movies, listening to music, going outside, and trying new things.
3rd Stewardess: Hyden Tabilla
Hyden lives in the southern part of the Philippines where you will find the famous Boracay Island. She graduated in restaurant management and began her career with a luxury cruise line. She eventually landed on a famous motor yacht and has been part of the yachting industry for over ten years. Being on a boat allows her to pursue her passions: traveling and discovering the world. She enjoys providing outstanding service to guests. Hyden appreciates exploring new locations and is excited to be part of the journey with M/Y ASTERIA.
Stewardess/Deckhand: Evangelia Tsantiri
Growing up on a Greek island, Eva cultivated a deep passion for the sea from an early age. Her journey into the world of hospitality began with her first job at her family-owned restaurant, where she discovered her enthusiasm for providing exceptional service and caring for others. As she matured, Eva started traveling the world, which ignited her desire to pursue a career that intertwined her love for hospitality with her passion for sea and exploration. This realization led her to conclude that a position aboard a yacht would be her ideal profession, allowing her to combine her two greatest passions.
Chef: Barbara Busciala
Most people call me Bibi. I am from Southern Italy and proud to be half sicilian, half apulian with a proud, determined temperament. I started my career in the kitchen at the Intercontinental hotel in Malta, where I honed my flare for professional cooking. I started working in the yacht industry 15 years ago, rapidly realizing I had found my niche. I love the freedom, the sun and the sea, and the challenges of cooking on board. Cooking is the most delicious of the arts where forms, colors, and soul all combine to help the diner fall in love. I love the traditional European style of cooking, specifically Spanish, Italian, and Greek cuisines. I have a special talent for making pasta. Over the years I have gained great experience working in all aspects of restaurant service, from working directly in the kitchen to front of house and management. Since working on yachts, I have opened several restaurants back home in Italy. I’m currently opening one in Puglia. I have worked on a variety of yachts for varying numbers of crew and guests, from the small to the very large, making me extremely adaptable and flexible. I pride myself on being able to cook for all palates and satisfy all types of diners. I have a particular interest in healthy, organic food, as well as catering for specialist diets. Dogs, walking in the forest, opera and Pavarotti are a few of my favorite things.
Chief Engineer: Dimitris Christopetros
Dimitrios was born in Nafplio, the first capital of Greece and the host of the prestigious Mediterranean Yacht Show held every May. Growing up in a city steeped in maritime tradition, Dimitrios developed a passion for engineering and the sea early on.
With over 15 years of experience in the maritime industry, he has worked on expedition yachts and some of the largest ships in the world, navigating to remote locations like the Arctic Circle.
In his free time, Dimitrios enjoys fitness, bodybuilding, and traveling, blending his love for adventure and personal growth. His dedication to ensuring the yacht operates flawlessly guarantees that every journey is safe and unforgettable.
2nd Engineer: Manuel Sanchez
Manuel was born and raised in Mexico, where he earned his license as an engineer officer of watch at Tampico's marine school. In 2017, he completed an internship as an engineer cadet aboard a tugboat in the ports of Altamira and Tampico.
Manuel has worked as a third engineer in the offshore maritime industry for five years. Manuel wanted to increase his professional knowledge and yearned for adventure and therefore became an integral part of the Asteria crew. Manuel is looking forward to sharing a great journey, interesting discovery, and safe sailing with everyone in the future. In his spare time, he enjoys sports, including swimming, football, soccer, and volleyball.
