YACHT CLUB
Capt. Sandy Yawn says the addictive Bravo series is very much anchored in reality
Capt. Sandy Yawn from Below Deck Mediterranean dishes to In Touch about her new love and life at sea
It hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for the cast of Below Deck Mediterranean, the hit Bravo show that follows the crew of a multimillion-dollar superyacht as they try their best to please wealthy charter guests — without throwing each other overboard. This season alone sees messy co-worker hookups, a grossly incompetent chef and major technical difficulties aboard the Sirocco as it makes its way through the picturesque French Riviera. According to the boat’s fearless leader, Capt. Sandy Yawn, the craziness that’s caught on camera is as real as it gets. “It’s not scripted,” says the 54-year-old head honcho. “This is a real job, people are paying real money for these charters, and at the end of the day, I am ultimately responsible for every soul on board.” Here, Sandy, who lives in Denver when she’s on dry land, talks to In Touch’s Diana Cooper about life on deck, how Facebook brought her and her gospel-singer girlfriend, Leah Shafer, together and why she can’t keep chocolate cake in the house.
Sounds like working on a luxury ship isn’t as glamorous as it seems!
SY:
It’s not! We live in tight quarters — obviously the captain’s cabin is a little bigger, but I also have a huge amount of responsibility. Imagine working with the same people 24/7, month after month. It’s hard!
There must be some perks, though? SY:
When guests go to shore in St. Tropez, I’m like, ‘Everyone in the water!’ I go down the slide and water-ski. You’ve got to have some fun.
Who do you get along with best on the crew? SY:
Hannah [Ferrier] and I are in an amazing place. Who makes me laugh most? Jack [Stirrup]. Who drives me the craziest? Jack. [Laughs.]
Chef Mila [Kolomeitseva] stirred controversy saying she wouldn’t want her son to see two men kissing. How do you feel about her? SY:
That’s what she believes; I don’t really care what she thinks. It doesn’t affect me or my personal life. Would I hang out with her? No.
Speaking of your personal life, how are things going with Leah?
SY:
I’m crazy in love and it’s amazing! The colors are brighter, the sky is bluer. It’s phenomenal, and she’s an incredible human being.
We hear you met in a really cute way. SY:
I do an “I Believe Tour” [in which she shares leadership lessons she’s learned and tries to inspire women], and she had seen it and sent me a message on Facebook saying, “Fabulous show, many blessings.” That caught my eye, and I started watching all these videos of her singing. Then we met and I was like, “She’s my soulmate.”
Wow. What do you do when you’re not working?
SY:
We get one month off a year. I love SoulCycle, waterskiing, snow skiing. I want to climb Pikes Peak, which is a 14,000-foot mountain.
You seem to have a really positive outlook. Where does that come from?
SY:
I’ve had so many things happen to me. I’ve been hit by a car, I had cancer. I’m just happy I get to breathe and walk around and be in a great relationship and be on an amazing TV show! ◼