Barbara Bridgman

Barbara is originally from Monte Argentario, part of the Tuscan Archipelago in Italy. She grew up by the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, in a village proud of its boatbuilding traditions and deep-rooted seamanship. From an early age, she learned to respect and enjoy the sea — a lifelong source of inspiration and connection with nature.

Growing up beside a boatyard, Barbara developed an early fascination with boatbuilding and design. This passion led her to buy her first dinghy as a teenager and learn to sail, soon joining the crews of beautifully restored historic boats proudly maintained by her community. From there, she began working as a deckhand on the international classic sailing circuit, where she made lasting friendships and had the honour of sailing aboard some of the world’s most iconic traditional vessels — gaining invaluable seamanship skills along the way.

After earning her degree in Political Science and International Law at the University of Siena, Barbara took a gap year to join the classic boat community on the Isle of Wight during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Since arriving in the UK, she has immersed herself in the world of classic sailing, working for a sail training charity where she gained her professional skipper qualifications.

Together with Dom, Barbara is realising her vision of re-utilising maritime heritage as a means to educate, empower, and support coastal communities — fostering resilience, teamwork, and adventure through life at sea.