Operating in the Caribbean
Qualifications:
-RYA Yacht Master Offshore
-STCW Basic Safety Training
-VHF License
-Jet Ski and power boat instructor
-PADI Dive Master
Eben grew up in South Africa in a big city but most vacations were spent in the wild bushveld. His working career started as a project manager and later on to logistics. Eben started sailing later in life and as soon as he set foot on his first boat he was hooked. He went on to become a captain and managed a sailing academy.
Eben and Katie met on the north coast of Sicily in Milazzo in 2022 and it was love at first sight. Katie as an equestrian rider and Eben as a Captain both had a love of the water. After traveling together around Europe Eben convinced Katie to join him in the amazing world of sailing.
Eben has been chartering around the Mediterranean and the Caribbean for the last 9 years and Katie joined him in the British Virgin Islands in 2023. As soon as you step on board you will feel at home and you can sit back relax and soak in the Caribbean sun. Whatever your needs are, whether it is diving amazing reefs, building sand castles on the beach or enjoying cocktails at the beach bars, Eben and Katie will have you forgetting about the world outside the islands.
Qualifications:
-Ashburton Culinary Academy Yacht Chef Certificate
-STCW Basic Safety Training
-Food Safety & Hygiene Level 2
Katie was born in a small English village in the UK, her love for water and the ocean comes from the South coast of England. Her love for the ocean is matched by her love for horses as an equestrian dressage ride and her passion for cuisines from around the world. She enjoyed cooking from a young age with her mom who was a qualified chef. After completing her equine studies she worked in equine yards where she competed at a national level. She lated worked at a culinary school where she further developed her skills that are incorporated in her beautiful cuisines.
PLAYTIME accommodates up to 8 guests in 3 queen suites and 1 twin bunk cabin. All the guest suites feature full A/C and ensuite head and shower. Twin cabin is a wet head.
The crew will be in the Port Aft Queen Cabin
The crew will move to the bunk cabin for an additional $2,000 non-commissionable fee
Captain, Our Captain... our Captain Paul, the best! Thank you for sharing your love of the seas, for creating a "Playtime" world that values caring for others, sharing the islands, and bringing out the best in others along the way. Cannot understate the "Ashley" connection, subtly creating wonderful constructed meals, deliciously served with grace and pride to match. A delightful spirit that weaves your own magic knitted into Paul's expertise perfectly. May the friendship we have started carry on for years to come.
Thanks again
-Diana
Paul and Ashley,
Thank you for a wonderful week! The snorkeling, walk up Rams Head, and the sporty sail from St Croix were great experiences. Gene and I love sailing the USVI and BVI and look forward to being back.
Love Cathy and Gene
Pashley,
Thank you two for a trip of a lifetime. From the day we arrived to our last meal it was magical. The food, the snorkels, the sunsets, the "Paul" moments were very special. Our best to you in your future endeavors.
-M&M
We had a wonderful time on the charter. After postponing our trip for a year and a half, we were over-due for a real vacation with the family. The boat was spectacular and Paul & Ashley were great. Playtime was comfortable, especially the brand new cushions throughout the boat. It’s apparent that the owner and Paul pay attention to every single detail in order to ensure smooth sailing and luxurious comfort for all the guests. Captain Paul was AMAZING! We had many different excursions and things we wanted to do. Paul was attentive and made sure that both adults and kids each had individual experiences as well as a great family experience. For example, our oldest son wanted to scuba, our youngest son wanted underwater photography, my husband wanted a secluded beach and I just wanted lots of painkillers and sunshine! Paul delivered and then some. He was gracious and constantly asked for feedback in order to ensure a relaxing charter. Paul suggested that we venture on a four hour sail from St. John over to St. Croix and we were not disappointed. Paul knows the islands and where to go to truly live and breathe ‘island time’ away from the tourists, even allowing us all to share in the experience of seeing baby turtles (5 days old) and an octopus. Ashley was wonderful as well. She effortlessly juggled meals that consisted of various requests and she always left us in awe. Her culinary expertise and her excitement for sailing and traveling was out of this world. I do need to circle back with her and get her recipe for turkey meatballs!! We are already thinking about our next charter in 2023 and we hope to be able to reconnect with Paul when that time comes. My youngest son is anxiously awaiting Paul’s response to connect over Skype this week to finish editing the underwater photos that they took (and Paul was trusting enough to let my son use his underwater camera). I am so thankful to Paul for giving this gift to my son. Paul is a true teacher and his passion for sailing, Playtime and connecting with nature left all of us wanting more.
Thank you again,
June 8, 2018 "This was a Double Thumbs Up experience. 5 Stars!"
My week on Playtime exceeded any expectations I had. The crew were professional, friendly, extremely helpful and pleasant to be around. The cooking was A+. Any special dietary needs were worked with care and consideration. We had vegetarian and non-vegetarian and some gluten free eating . The boat comfortably slept 9 men and the crew! Sailing was a joy. The crew were also well experienced in the islands and were able to lead us to exquisite diving and snorkel spots. They were also superb diving instructors for first time divers like myself. On day four of our trip some of us swam out to a mother and baby dolphin that were passing by. The dolphins swam near us and circled around us for about 15 minutes. It was a definite highlight. The crew also had rapport with customs which made dealing with passports much easier and more efficient. It was an amazing week! My friends and I were taken great of by an experienced, kind, fun, and thoughtful crew! This was a Double Thumbs Up experience. 5 Stars!
May 21, 2018 "Each day was checking out a new beautiful and quaint island. Each meal was incredible, not just decent."
Once we left harbor I realized the next 6 days would be a postcard in every direction. I like to be active and between scuba diving, wake-boarding, stand up paddle boarding, and kayaking I had plenty to do. Each day was checking out a new beautiful and quaint island. Each meal was incredible, not just decent. It was a great bonus to have WiFi and be able to FaceTime with my wife and kids. A week that sadly flew by...
May 18, 2018 "The crew (Kelsey and Tyler) seemed to anticipate and meet every need I could have, and the food kept getting more and more scrumptious as the trip continued!"
“The cabins and decks on Playtime were surprisingly spacious, and the amenities were topnotch. I loved having the hand showers on the swim steps to wash the salt off. Having the two stand-up paddleboards, kayak and Zodiac gave a lot of different avenues for fun. The crew (Kelsey and Tyler) seemed to anticipate and meet every need I could have, and the food kept getting more and more scrumptious as the trip continued! And it is an indescribably impressive feeling to watch the huge sails get hoisted up, and then feel the gentle power of the wind grab hold of them and power the boat through the water, while you sit on the captain’s deck with your drink feeling the wind and taking in the islands. A once-in-a-lifetime experience!”
Thanks for your help
March 15, 2018 "Every day something special and delicious."
Tyler and Kelsey,
On behalf of us all I would like to thank you both for the wonderful vacation experience. While we were last minute guests you made us feel special, especially the grandkids. G & T flowing like the Nile was wonderful but I have to admit the rum shots weren't too shabby. You both earned your camp counselor gold stars for dealing with Jonah and Amelia and me. Watching Jonah think he was steering while the boat was on autopilot was hilarious. Message in a bottle was another touching moment. Culinary skills also gets an A+. The food was amazing. Every day something special and delicious. Popcorn throwing can become another evening game. FIshing hats out of the ocean can be a day game.
While the surf was a little rough at the beach we discovered a new olympic sport--tushy surfing. And the ladies got exfoliations courtesy of blowing sand.
Tubing was a pain in my arms but otherwise fun. I know the grandkids loved it by their screams.
Snorkeling was fun for all once the grandkids figured it out and got off Deborah and Josh's backs.
Diving good for Josh since he got certified and had some better underwater scenes. The wind churned up the water a little but that's mother nature for you. At least I got under and didn't get lost. Following Alan's day glow yellow fins helped.
Thanks again.
March 1, 2018 "They did their utmost to make the trip memorable and succeeded"
The trip was amazing. We all had boat loads-ha ha- of fun. The grandkids loved Tyler and Kelsey as did we all.. They did their utmost to make the trip memorable and succeeded. The boat was amazing. We can't thank you enough for your last minute pull the catamaran out of the hat trick. Josh managed to get dive certified. Alan did his diving. Liz and I did a recreational dive. Honestly, the diving was not spectacular because of the wind. The water was very cloudy, but we did our best to find fish and other interesting fishy stuff. They took us to places we remembered from our past trips and some we had not been to. It was a little tricky for them to plan Josh and Alan's dive time and have the rest of us be doing things as well. Going from Island to Island was very bumpy with high waves and wind. A couple of days were more clouds than sun and some rain. All in all it was wonderful. The crew, the boat, the food- everything. Evenings after the kids went to bed when we weren't too tired ourselves, were chock full of games and drinks. Taboo, Pass the pigs, and a dice game Tyler taught us brought on the laughs. Watching Jonah think he was steering the boat when it was on autopilot was hilarious. They had the grandkids write notes and put them in wine bottles and throw them overboard. We have videos and pictures to document our Island jaunts, including conch blowing with "The Pirate".
All of our thanks,
The Jordan and Goldin Crew
January 22, 2018 "Thank you so much for the "Bucket List" trip. We will be doing this again!"
We just returned from a 7 day cruise. If i could give more than 5 stars to the crew, food, boat and the experience in general, I would. With the hurricane recovery, we were hesitant to take the trip we booked in August. I had even considered cancelling. Boy was I wrong. There are definite signs of hurricane damage, but the beauty of the water and islands is still breathtaking. I took my 80 year old Mom, my 2 adult children and a husband that swore he would never get on a cruise ship. We all could not stop talking about how wonderful and perfect the trip was! Kelsey and Tyler were so great and became like part of the family!
Thank you so much for the "Bucket List" trip. We will be doing this again!
January 14, 2017 "Our best vacation ever, by far"
The boat was wonderful and very comfortable. Kelsey and Tyler could
not have been better. About 91 on a scale of 1-10. They were very
competent handling the boat. The meals were great, well presented and
more than enough.
The diving was great. They are great instructors. The itinerary was
perfect. Our best vacation ever, by far.
Monty B.