From Lee to Sandy! A Guide to Every Captain in the 'Below Deck' Franchise
A boat is nothing without its leader. Over the years, Below Deck fans have become familiar with many captains — and some made more memorable impressions than others.
Below Deck, which premiered in 2013, explored the glamorous world of yachting and the not as beautiful behind-the-scenes situations that the crew must handle. The first season introduced viewers to Captain Lee Rosbach and his strict approach to leadership.
Ahead of the show’s 10th season, Captain Lee reflected on his Below Deck legacy.
“I’m not [different] as far as the way that I operate, my boat, my yacht, my ship. I don’t think I’ve changed at all. I still run what I call a tight ship and it’s based on a meritocracy,” he exclusively told Us Weekly in November 2022. “See, if you get your job based on merit, you keep your job based on merit and therefore you will lose your job for lack of merit. There’s a few other things that you could do, but basically it’s lack of merit, so that’ll cost you your job.”
The captain noted that he wasn’t looking to alter his management style, adding: “So in the last 10 years, I don’t think I’ve changed that much. I may have — I’m not so quick to be intolerant as I might have been in the past. But I think that just generally with everyone comes with experience and time.”
At the time, Lee weighed in on his thoughts of a potential retirement. “I think you always have to have a purpose. You have to be doing something productive,” he said, calling the idea of taking a break “overrated” for him. “And when yachting and the show itself stopped being fun is probably when I’ll stop doing it. This season was still fun in spite of everything that popped up.”
Captain Sandy Yawn, for her part, has also offered a glimpse at her hands-off approach when it comes to creating restrictions for her team.
“What they do once they are off the vessel in their personal lives is their personal decision. So, if they want to hook up with clients after they’re signed off the vessel, go for it,” she detailed to Us in July 2022. “I’m all about love. I found love. I want everybody to have love, but you can’t do it in a professional setting.”
The TV personality said that she preferred to base her opinions on her subordinates on “first impressions.”
“Like, I am not going to stand over them, but I wouldn’t sit on the bridge knowing that they’re down crew members and not bail them out,” she continued. “Sometimes you got to be in and get your hands dirty. That’s why I want [my team] to feel supported because I have a high expectation.”
Scroll down for a guide to every captain in Below Deck history:
The Below Deck OG, who is otherwise known as the Stud of the Sea, has been with the series since it debuted in 2013. Captain Lee's most notable costars have been chief stew Kate Chastain, bosun Eddie Lucas, chef Rachel Hargrove and chef Ben Robinson. The Bravo personality briefly took a break at the beginning of season 8 due to health issues. He was also missing in action in the first episode of season 9. While Lee returned for season 10, he exited the charter early during a December 2022 episode amid ongoing mobility issues. He was ultimately replaced by Captain Sandy. Laurent Bassett/Bravo
As Captain Lee dealt with an offscreen injury, Captain Sean came onboard to help out the crew with the first charter. The newcomer, who appeared in two episodes of season 9, departed shortly after Lee returned. Youtube
Below Deck Mediterranean introduced fans to new yachting locations — and a new captain. Mark Howard appeared on the Ionian Princess alongside chief stew Hannah Ferrier and returning chef Ben. He was replaced by Captain Sandy in future seasons of the series. In December 2021, Us confirmed that the former Below Deck Med star died naturally of hypertensive cardiovascular disease. According to the coroner's report, chronic alcoholism was listed as a contributory cause of his passing. YouTube
Captain Sandy took over in season 2 of Below Deck Mediterranean as the Sirocco yacht sailed throughout Croatia. The Florida native has remained a staple of the second spinoff series — with Hannah, bosun Malia White, chef Adam Glick and bosun João Franco as her recurring crew members. During season 5, Sandy received backlash for her decision to fire fan-favorite Hannah for having Valium and a CBD vape pen in her cabin. Despite fans' disapproval, Sandy has continued to stand by the choice. Sandy shocked viewers when she replaced Lee during season 10 of Below Deck. Laurent Basset/Bravo
After the premiere of Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Captain Glenn Shephard quickly became the face of the third Below Deck spinoff. During his time onboard, Glenn has repeatedly counted on chief engineer Colin Macrae, first officer Gary King and chief stew Daisy Kelliher. Laurent Basset/Bravo
Below Deck Down Under, which is set in Australia, was all about shaking up the Below Deck franchise in a different location — and with a memorable new captain. Captain Jason Chambers quickly won over the hearts of the crew and viewers with his firm but friendly demeanor on Motor Yacht Thalassa. The captain previously made headlines in 2019 after his boat Superyacht Moatize crashed in Northern Queensland. Jason is set to return for a second season of Below Deck Down Under with chief stew Aesha Scott by his side. Laurent Bassett/Bravo
The fourth Below Deck spinoff focuses on adventurous charters in the Fjords of Norway with Captain Kerry Titheradge at the helm. During the first season, which debuted in November 2022, Kerry was joined by chief stew Faye Clarke, chef Jessica Condy and bosun Lewis Lupton. Vincent Cerone/Bravo
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