A PLACE IN THE SUN Yacht Charter

Captain: Dwight Ledbetter

CAPTAIN DWIGHT LEDBETTER

Dwight has always held a passion for the water, immersing himself since he was four years old in waterborne activities such as competitive sailing and swimming, surfing and diving. Raised on the Space Coast of Florida, he sailed and won championships while leading his AAU Swim Team to consecutive State Titles, a seventh in the National Junior Olympics, and setting 8 High School records.
Dwight initially pursued the lure of rough Necking the offshore oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico. Quickly working his way through the ranks to become a Liquid Nitrogen Operator, he again set records, this time in the onsite physics of well control.
When the oil field business crashed in 1985, he seized upon ‘The Call of the Sea’, this time as a professional crewman racing on a legendary Maxi Yacht in England. Dwight has never looked back.
In his 18 years as a “yachtie”, Dwight has won the Maxi World Championships and Antigua Race twice each, the Newport to Bermuda Race, and the Holy Grail of offshore yachting racing, the Fastnet Race. Having sailed 196,000 bluewater miles, he has crossed the Atlantic 12 times and sailed the oceans from Quebec to Buenos Aires, and Hawaii to Italy.
Having reached the pinnacle on sailing yachts, he chose to apply his seamanship and leadership skills to luxury Motor Yachts. First, a 120’ Sport Fish – CADENCE, largest in the world – Then to a 106’ cruising yacht, CALEX, and a 126’ new build, ALGORYTHM, of Trinity Yachts. As Captain for the Chairman of Trinity, Dwight successfully campaigned and sold a 126’ Trinity, BIG EASY, then promptly moved the owner to a 121’ Moonen, WHITE HEAVEN III.


MATE CURTIS WILLIAMS

Curtis, originally from the Great Lakes coastal area of Cleveland, OH, grew up assisting with his family business of Chris Craft dealership serving the pleasure boat market of Lake Erie. While still in his teens, he was tasked with assisting new owner as a their temporary captain. Working his way through college, Curtis worked as a deck hand on a dinner ship and was soon told by the captain ‘You have to get your captain’s license when you turn 18 and the ship position is yours’. Spring of the following year, he was ‘handed the keys’ by the captain who left. At 18, the youthful Curtis became master of a 400 passenger dinner cruise ship to the surprise of many passengers. He soon met members of the private yacht industry transiting the Great Lakes from Florida. Following the advice of a fellow captain, he was soon on his way to Fort Lauderdale heralded as the ‘Yachting Capital of the World’.For several years, Captain Curtis, ran the 80-foot Hatteras, M/Y TIN MAN, cruising from Destin, Florida to Detroit. Among numerous other yachts, he also ran the M/Y DYNAMIC DUO for several years traveling from Florida and The Bahamas, the Great Lakes, Cuba, Mexico and the East Coast. Curtis always has a cheerful attitude and eager to assist.


CHIEF STEWARDESS ERIKA PAGTALUNAN

Erika is a certified Yacht Stewardess and has a niche for bartending, decorating and ensuring that her guests receive the utmost outstanding service on their Yacht Charter experience. She trained through Bluewater Yachting Crew for her certifications including: STCW, Coast Guard/Firefighting course, and Yacht Interior Service - Level 1. She takes pride in being detailed and organized all while making sure her guests are comfortable and safe. Her guests are priority when it comes to her work, and if asked, she would be happy to assist/partake in any offboard activities as well.

Some fun facts about Erika are, she was born and raised in Michigan. She grew up around Lake Huron and the great outdoors. She spent a great amount of time camping, hiking, fishing and skiing with her family growing up and it's something she still enjoys to do with them. Erika has traveled within the U.S. borders working in multiple states in the hospitality industry. Wanting to see more of the world while using her interior and hospitality skills, she decided to join the Yachting community and has loved it ever since!


DECKHAND/STEWARDESS JENNA LOVELESS

Jenna, born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, is a seasoned hospitality professional that loves to orchestrate unforgettable experiences for discerning guests. With an insatiable passion for travel, Jenna has explored diverse corners of the globe, including Mexico, St. Thomas, St. Barth, London, Paris, and the Dominican Republic. Her genuine enthusiasm for ensuring guests’ comfort and enjoyment radiates through her warm hospitality, always leaving a lasting smile on their faces.
Beyond her adeptness in hospitality, Jenna’s athletic prowess shines through her love for sports, having showcased her skills in volleyball, golf, and gymnastics. Particularly excelling in golf, she brings a competitive spirit and a dedication to excellence to everything she undertakes. She is also a multifaceted individual with a deep appreciation for intellectual pursuits and mindfulness practices. A voracious reader and avid writer, she finds solace and inspiration in the written word, often immersing herself in literature to broaden her horizons and nurture her creativity.

Jenna also embraces the transformative power of meditation, carving out moments of tranquility amidst her dynamic lifestyle to center herself and cultivate inner peace. Her commitment to personal growth enriches not only her life but also enhances the serene ambiance aboard the yacht, contributing to an atmosphere of harmony and relaxation for all that she has the pleasure of sailing alongside.


CHEF AARON BYERS

Chef Aaron grew up in the heart of New Jersey devouring the abundance of freshness that the Garden State produces.! After graduating University in 2000, he set out on an adventure to see the world and came across the yachting Industry while traveling in the South of France along the Cote D'Azur and felt that he had found the Holy Grail. Travel the world in style on mega yachts while rubbing elbows with the most influential minds on the planet Yes Please!!
After 10 years of sailing around the world and making memories of a lifetime, he left the yachting industry with a dream to take a crack at creating his childhood dream of opening a taqueria on the beach and surfing everyday! He succeeded and created one of the first food truck businesses in South Florida. Over the span of 7 years he was awarded and recognized by national celebrity chefs, publications and media outlets on numerous occasions for the quality of his product. He sold the company at its peak, and went surfing!! 🙂
Over the last 6 years since he sold his company, he has been traveling the globe honing his cooking skills in over 50 countries while traveling and cooking on multiple mega yachts.
He is an avid lover of all things on the sea, mainly surfing, diving, and spearfishing! He has a gift of creating unique flavors by infusing ingredients from all corners of the globe and looks forward to making your palate dance!!