Behind The Scenes: Captain Sandy Yawn On The Reality Of Filming Below Deck Mediterranean
Sandy Yawn, the coolheaded captain who has shot to fame on Below Deck has returned to the helm for season six, Below Deck Mediterranean. Speaking to BOAT International she opens up about her experiences of filming the hit US reality show shown on US network Bravo.
The opportunity for Sandy, 55, to first join the Below Deck series landed on her lap after an acquaintance recommended her to the showrunner five years ago.
Sirocco
Captain Sandy revealed that she was discouraged from joining the show but decided to pursue the opportunity anyway.
Everyone was saying dont do it, youll ruin your career and I was like This just landed in my lap, I cant say no to it!’ I went to the interview and said if it happens, it happens, if it doesnt, it doesnt. I thought well Im already a successful captain, I can always get another job.
Luckily, captain Sandy breezed through the interviews and was asked to join the second season of Below Deck Mediterranean, replacing outgoing captain Mark Howard.
Despite initial warnings not to join, captain Sandy said she was never concerned about her own portrayal on the show.
You cant make someone look bad if theyre doing their job right, no matter how you edit it, she said. Im a competent captain. Im a woman so Ive had to work five times harder than anyone else to get there. I’m there to do the job and the TV bit comes second,” she said.
SiroccoLady Michelle
Below Deck: Mediterranean season six airs on Bravo.
Who Is The Cast Of Below Deck Mediterranean Season 6
There are some new faces on the crew of the Lady Michelle, with Captain Sandy abd Malia White the only two returning cast members.
Heres the cast for Below Deck Mediterranean season 6:
Sandy Yawn: Captain Sandy
Captain Sandy has held the helm at the Lady Michelle for six seasons.
From Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she has 30 years of yachting experience under her belt.
Katie Flood: Chief Stew
Originally from New Zealand, Flood is the newest member of the Below Deck crew having joined in season 6 to replace Hannah Ferrier.
Malia White: Bosun
Malia White is back for the third time to Below Deck Mediterranean. This season will see her enjoy being single after breaking up from her partner Tom Checketts in September 2020.
In season 5 it was White who got Ferrier fired after showing Captain Sandy a picture of her unregistered valium and vape.
Matthew Shea: Chef
Matthew Shea is the talented chef who hails from Rhode Island.
With famous celebrity clients including Hugh Jackman and Rupert Murdoch, Shea brings experience and passion to the kitchen.
Lexi Wilson: Second stewardess
Fans can expect lots of drama from the Bahamian stewardess.
In the season 6 trailer we see Lexi and Katie get into an argument, which leads her to make a drastic decision.
Courtney Veale: Stewardess
There may be love in the air this season for stewardess Courtney who is from North Wales.
The season 6 trailer shows someone asking her off camera if she kissed one of the deckhands.
David Pascoe: Deckhand
How To Make Reality On A Boat
A suitable Below Deck locale offers easy access to a major airport , six weeks worth of available hotel rooms to accommodate production , and a robust network of local suppliers able to continuously outfit the yacht with perishables like ice and fresh meat. It must also, of course, be a place that will look beautiful on TV the better to complement beautiful cast members.
While the pool of professional, available yachties is smaller than that of, say, housewives, it is, at least, a pool crowded with foxy, daring exhibitionists, which makes it conducive to casting.
The yachting industry, Mr. Samton said, attracts the kind of people that are good TV.
First of all, theyre a lot of young, attractive people. A lot of people that are sort of escaping their lives for some reason, or have this adventurous streak in them.
The zigzag of frantic, round-the-clock shifts followed by sudden reprieves between charters plus regular windfalls in the form of huge tips fosters a work hard, party hard atmosphere.
People who arent on TV are pretty good at keeping drama behind closed doors, said Mr. Samton. Were really good at finding the people who are going to wear it on their sleeves.
Once the network has convinced nine professional yacht workers to open their lives up to a TV audience, productions task is to outfit a boat in such a way that it becomes virtually impossible for them to escape that audience.
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Burning Down The House
Mon, Aug 30, 2021 60 mins
A new crew member arrives on Lady Michelle and Katie is left in a bind when she finds out some surprising new information. Chef Mathew faces his most challenging preference sheet yet but is presented with an even bigger hurdle when there is a dangerous incident in the galley. Meanwhile, the biggest storm of the season hits, leaving the crew scrambled and worried.
What Happened To Hannah Ferrier In Season 5

Hannah Ferrier, the ships chief, lost her job in season 5 after it was discovered that she was in possession of unregistered valium and a vape pen.
Ferrier argued that the medication was prescribed for her anxiety, but was fired by Captain Sandy and has since been replaced by Katie Flood.
Fans and crew members were divided with the firing, with season 5 second steward Aesha Scot describing it as, a little OTT, during an interview with Bravo.
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Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls
Mon, Sep 13, 2021 60 mins
The crew enjoys a day off at a Croatian national park. Mzi reveals his feelings for Courtney and David gets closer to Delaney, but a brutal injury threatens to derail one of the budding romances. Meanwhile, old tensions between Lexi and Chef Mathew resurface leading to an explosive stand-off that begins to unravel the close-knit crew.
Season : The Wellington
- Sandy Yawn Captain
- Hindrigo “Kiko” Lorran Chef
- Tom Checketts Chef
- Hannah Ferrier Chief Stewardess
- Lara Flumiani 2nd Stewardess
- Christine “Bugsy” Drake 2nd Stewardess , Chief Stewardess
- Aesha Scott 2nd Stewardess
- Jessica More 3rd Stewardess
- Malia White Bosun
- Peter Hunziker Lead Deckhand , Deckhand later fired by the production company.
- Alex Radcliffe Deckhand , Lead Deckhand
- Robert Westergaard Deckhand
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Why Isn’t Lexi Wilson On The ‘below Deck Mediterranean’ Season 6 Reunion
Because much of the drama on Season 6 was about Lexi and her various notable disagreements with Mathew, Malia, and her own boss, Katie Flood, the Florida resident likely would have been one of the main topics of discussion at the Watch What Happens Live reunion special.
Unfortunately, based on a sneak peek clip for the reunion, Lexi did not return to defend herself, or to discuss her actions on the show.
According to the Instagram account, @BelowDeckAboveAverage, Lexi shared during an August 2021 Q& A that she would not be participating in the reunion.
“I’m extremely, extremely busy with important things in my life! I wish them a great reunion!” she wrote in response to a fan’s question.
About Below Deck Mediterranean
Captain Sandy brings 163-foot motor yacht Home to the pristine waters of Malta, one of the smallest and most historic archipelagos in the world. Stream episodes one week early on Peacock or watch on Bravo Mondays at 8/7c.
Different than previous charter seasons, Sandy is working with a complex hybrid vessel making it more unpredictable to navigate. To ensure smooth sailing this year, Sandy brings on a trio of new department heads, but when surprising friction in the galley intensifies between the Chief Stew and Chef, who came onto the boat as colleagues and friends, tension permeates through the entire boat. Meanwhile, the deck team faces an uphill battle when one crew member is unable to adapt to the high demands of Mediterranean superyachting, forcing others to pick up the slack. From difficult charter guests to roller-coaster boatmances and challenges with hierarchy on board, these yachties go to unthinkable lengths to survive the charter season.
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At Your Lack Of Service
Mon, Aug 16, 2021 60 mins
After striking out with Malia, his supervisor on deck, David navigates awkward waters. With a new charter underway, it’s Courtney’s turn on service leaving Lexi in laundry and Katie picking up the slack. Chef Mathew continues to prove he’s worth a third chance, while tensions begin to brew between Captain Sandy and Malia.
When And Where Was Below Deck Mediterranean Season 6 Filmed
Below Deck Mediterranean Season 6 has kicked off, prompting viewers to ask when and where the Bravo show was filmed.
Each season brings a new crew and location to Below Deck Med. The yachting show has filmed in Greece, Croatia, Italy, France, and Spain throughout the years.
This season, Below Deck Mediterranean revisits a familiar location for the first time in the series history. The coronavirus pandemic played a pivotal role in determining where and when the Below Deck spin-off would be filmed.
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List Of Below Deck Mediterranean Episodes
Below Deck Mediterranean is an American reality television series which premiered on May 3, 2016 on Bravo. The show is the first spin-off of Below Deck. Similar to the original, the show chronicles the lives of the crew members who work and reside aboard a superyacht during charter season. It shows the crew as they deal with their personal issues in order to make their professional careers work. Every season ends with a special dedicated reunion episode of Watch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohen, in which the cast members discuss the events of the season.
Season : Lady Michelle

- Sandy Yawn Captain
- Lexi Wilson 2nd Stewardess , 3rd Stewardess
- Courtney Veale 3rd Stewardess , 2nd Stewardess
- Delaney Evans 3rd Stewardess
- Malia White Bosun
- David Pascoe Deckhand , Lead Deckhand
- Lloyd Spencer Deckhand
- Natasha “Tasha” Webb Chief Stewardess
- Kyle Viljoen 2nd Steward
- Storm Smith Lead Deckhand , Provisional Bosun Bosun
- Mzi “Zee” Dempers Deckhand
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All I Need Is A Miracle
Mon, Sep 27, 2021 60 mins
A new group of charter guests arrive with high spirits and even higher expectations. As Sandy joins the guests for dinner, Mathew puts extra pressure on himself to impress his Captain. And when Katie voluntarily goes short-handed in the stew department, Malia worries the workload will become overwhelming for the deck crew after rookie mistakes are made.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go
Mon, Sep 6, 2021 60 mins
A whiteout storm and continual bad weather forces the crew of Lady Michelle to find creative ways to keep the guests entertained. Meanwhile, David learns a lesson the hard way after making an important error and Katie’s aversion to conflict comes to a head when she is forced to make a tough decision about her interior team.
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It’s Like Rain On Your Wedding Day
Mon, Jul 12, 2021 60 mins
As the crew scrambles to get ready for a wedding that may or may not happen, Captain Sandy prepares to officiate for the first time. Meanwhile, Mat hopes to redeem himself after his disastrous first day and Katie sacrifices any breaks to help her team. Later that evening, the group’s first night out leaves some crew members feeling the love, while others clash in a big way.
When Was Below Deck Mediterranean Season 6 Filmed
Due to COVID-19, filming for Below Deck Med Season 6 was different than previous seasons. A bubble was created to ensure production members, crew, and guests were safe.
In the premiere, Captain Sandy revealed everyone must quarantine for seven days, making it more challenging to bring in replacement crew members. Its one reason the captain was freaking out when chef Matthew Shea left the luxury yacht to have an MRI on his knee.
Allie Dore from Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 2 shed more light on filming during her Pita Party program with Daisy Kelliher and Dani Soares.
The pregnant Australian beauty spilled that production went from filming Below Deck Sailing Yacht immediately to filming Below Deck Mediterranean. As fans saw at the end of Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Lady Michelle and Parsifal III were docked next to each other.
All Below Deck shows film for six weeks. Below Deck Sailing Yacht started filming in August 2020 and wrapped in mid-September. Based on what Alli said, Below Deck Med filmed from mid to late September to early to mid-November.
The timing means that Season 6 began to film before Season 5 if the Bravo show had finished playing out onscreen. Perhaps that helps answer some viewers questions about why the network would bring back Malia White and Captain Sandy Yawn after their mean girl behavior last year.
Below Deck Mediterranean airs Mondays at 9/8c on Bravo.
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The Reality Behind Below Deck
Filming Bravos hit reality franchise about yachts and yachties is a complex logistical operation.
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By Caity Weaver
PALMA, Majorca A provocative theory in vogue among physicists and philosophers suggests that we humans are not experiencing, and have not ever experienced, reality.
What we understand as reality, the theory proposes, may merely be one of an astronomical number of vivid computer simulations of an ancient past, designed by humanitys distant descendants to study the evolution of their forebears. If so, the United States of America is about as real as, say, the Mushroom Kingdom in an unattended game of Super Mario Bros. Our creators are not the deities of any major world religion, but the architects of the simulation we inhabit.
How might they perceive our lives this advanced civilization for whom every facet of our existence, from elation to exhaustion, is merely edu-tainment about the human experience?
What happened? exclaimed Courtland Cox, a gray-bearded, Argus-eyed executive producer, after one of more than a dozen simultaneous feeds broadcast Malia White, the franchises first-ever female bosun, cutting herself off with a midsentence expletive.
Seriously? Ms. White grumbled on the monitor.
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Where Was Below Deck Med Season 6 Filmed
Like Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 2, Below Deck Med Season 6 was filmed in Croatia. Captain Glenn Shephards helmed installment was based in Split, while Captain Sandy Yawns installment was filmed in Sibenik.
The town is located in central Dalmatia, with breathtaking views and cobblestone streets. Its the third-largest city along the Dalmatia coast of the country.
Sibenik is a city of sun, sea, and stone, making it unlike any other in Croatia. Tourists can enjoy incredible historical sites, stunning sea-side hangouts, and quaint alleys and squares filled with entertainment.
Krka National Park is nearby that has the Krka River running through it. The park offers activities for everyone ranging from scientific to recreational to cultural.
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