Summary
Below Deck Mediterraneanfigurehead,Capain Sandy Yawn, has projected a more positive image in season 9 than she has historically, but I worry that improved good reputation won’t last long. I’ve been aBelow Deckfranchisefan for many years and have watched every season of every show under theBelow Deckumbrella and am well-versed in everything having to do with Captain Sandy on and off-screen. Captain Sandy has been the leader ofBelow Deck Medsince season 2 premiered in 2017. She took over forCaptain Mark Howard, who was a one and done captain.
59-year-old Captain Sandy is originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and now has over 30 years of experience in the yachting industry. Captain Sandy used to be a wild child in her youth and got caught up with drugs and alcohol. However, she got clean and sober in 1989, and has turned her life completely around.Below Deckfans have seen a lot of Captain Sandy in 2024, as season 8 ended in January and season 9 began in May. And in season 9,it seems like Captain Sandy has turned over a new leaf - but that might not last.
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Captain Sandy Has Historically Been Disliked
She Plays Favorites & Has Been Hypocritical
Below Deck Medfans have gotten very familiar with Captain Sandy over the years. Every Captain has their own leadership style, andCaptain Sandy has been known to be a hands-on captainwho wants to know everything going on on the vessel. I believe that has caused her to be disliked by a lot ofBelow Deckfans because she inserts herself into situations that cause more problems.
Captain Sandy’s feud with Captain Lee off-camera also made her more dislikable. She took over for Captain Lee inBelow Deckseason 10 when he had to leave mid-charter season due to health reasons. In his absence, Captain Sandy fired both Alissa Humber and Camille Lamb. Online, Captain Lee said he would have liked Captain Sandy to check in with him before firing people. Captain Lee’s disgruntlement led Captain Sandy’s now-fiance, Leah Shaffer, to write a snarky reply back to him.
Moreover, Captain Lee criticized Captain Sandy’s hypocritical stance on waking the chef for late night guest requests. When Tom Checketts was chef, Captain Sandy was okay with waking him to make food after he’d been to bed, but inBelow Deck Medseason 9, she scolded Second Stew Ellie Dubaich for waking the chef.
Captain Sandy has also had a habit of playing favorites with her crew, like how she mentored Malia White and not other members of the deck team.
Captain Sandy Has A Short Fuse
She Has A Low Tolerance
Some of the belovedBelow Deckcaptains, like Captain Lee and Captain Glenn Shephard, have a lot of patience and understanding with the crew which is very admirable. However, Captain Sandy has historically had a short fuse. InBelow Deck Medseason 9, Captain Sandy has been showcasing her patient side with Bosun Iain Mclean. He has made numerous mistakes that have caused Captain Sandy to become disgruntled and annoyed, but she has given him the leeway to try and correct himself, which I know is more chances than Captain Sandy has given others in the past.
Captain Sandy seems a lot more agreeable in this current season, which has been out of her character in the past.I don’t think that Captain Sandy can keep up her patience like she has this season.I’m worried she will go back to her old ways of being quick to scold crew and give her input when situations don’t call for it.
Captain Sandy Says Offensive Things
She Can Be Cruel
Bravolebrity Captain Sandy has also been known to say some overly harsh things. When she was commanding Captain Lee’s boat, it was Fraser Olender’s first time being a Chief Stew, and she was quick to judge him, scold him, and make him feel inadequate. Instead of building Fraser up and mentoring him, she tore him down and made him feel bad about himself and his work when Fraser took his job very seriously.
“The fish rots from the head down.”
In season 9, Captain Sandy has been reasonable with her entire crew and has not been offensive with her words to any of the crew. But I think thatCaptain Sandy won’t be able to keep her softer side at bay.I feel her low tolerance for pushback will make a comeback in future seasons.
She’s Been More Relatable
InBelow Deck Medseason 9, I think Captain Sandy has improved her image asshe has become more relatable.She let viewers in on her battle with kidney cancer and the impact it has on her and the empathy she feels for others as a result. Captain Sandy has been more of a friendly captain and was there for Third Stew Bri Muller when she had a breakdown over her feud with Ellie and battle with laundry.
This season, viewers will also see a different side to Captain Sandy as she will propose to her girlfriend Leah, which I think will only help her cause of maintaining a more positive image.
Captain Sandy Can’t Keep Up Her Positive Image
She Will Change Back
Given Captain Sandy’s history with being overbearing, being too harsh to her team, and causing more problems by inserting herself when she should have stayed out of drama,I don’t think her newly positive image will last long.It is nice to see her in a different light this season, but Captain Sandy has triggers that are bound to get pushed in future seasons. Captain Sandy might be winning points withBelow Deck Medfans this season, but it’s not sustainable. I think that Captain Sandy means well this season, and it’s translating positively with fans, but the characteristics viewers don’t like about her are sure to return.
Below Deck Mediterranean
Cast
Below Deck Mediterranean is a Bravo reality television series that follows a crew that works aboard a gigantic superyacht during the busy season. The show highlights the challenges of the crew as they serve their high-end clientele. Each season tackles new locations, such as Greece, Croatia, Italy, and France, with some repeating.
