For the past 10 years, Capt. Sandy Yawn has navigated the calm and sometimes choppy waters of the Mediterranean while managing her crews on Bravo\u2019s popular travel reality series \u201cBelow Deck Mediterranean.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the sole female captain of the \u201cBelow Deck\u201d television franchise, since it began in 2013,<\/a> she has become a fan favorite, known for her calm but firm, tell-it-like-it-is manner on the superyachts where she and her crew cater to wealthy \u2014 and often rude \u2014 guests.<\/p>\n While the crew members stir up drama below deck, Captain Yawn, 61, better known to viewers and her crew as Captain Sandy, has been a steady leader who mentors them and solves problems above deck. The show is also streamed on Peacock.<\/p>\n She has also used the platform to promote careers in yachting through her nonprofit organization, \u201cCaptain Sandy\u2019s Charities.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n A Florida native, Captain Yawn has been in the boating industry for nearly 40 years. She began in her 20s by washing boats in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and by age 30, she had earned her captain\u2019s license from Maritime Professional Training, a school in Fort Lauderdale for mariners and yachting professionals.<\/p>\n As the 11th season of \u201cBelow Deck Mediterranean\u201d began this week, aboard the 170-foot-long Motor Yacht Akira One, we caught up with the affable captain known for her one-liners to crew members, such as, \u201cKeep it moving\u201d and \u201cDo the next right thing.\u201d<\/p>\n The following is an edited and condensed version of the conversation.<\/p>\n Why did you want to be part of the wild world of reality TV?<\/strong><\/p>\n It was offered to me. I didn\u2019t seek it. I didn\u2019t cast for it. I really loved my career. I was a Mediterranean captain for years. Someone who knew the showrunner said, \u201cI have a woman. Why don\u2019t you have a woman captain?\u201d and that\u2019s how it came about.<\/p>\n So the door of the opportunity opens, why not walk through it, right?<\/p>\n What are some things you have learned in navigating the crew\u2019s drama while providing five-star service to guests?<\/strong><\/p>\n I think that\u2019s in any business, to be honest. The difference is that we are at sea. We live and work together.<\/p>\n So when you think about restaurant business, they do the same thing. The majority of the focus is the food. That\u2019s always the big one. Obviously, the service side is No. 2 and then the water toys and activities are No. 3.<\/p>\n So you want to make sure the chef can produce the food of the expectation from the client, right? Secondly, you want to make sure the service is impeccable. Third, you want to make sure the deck team, you know, has the right equipment out, is educated on the equipment, so that\u2019s a training process.<\/p>\n So how I navigate the drama is, it doesn\u2019t happen in front of my eyeballs. They\u2019re on their best behavior. I learn everything about them when I watch the season back, just like the viewers.<\/p>\n Viewers have commented on how calm you are in disciplining staff and solving problems. What\u2019s your philosophy?<\/strong><\/p>\n Listen, I\u2019ve lost my temper a couple of times. I am a human being. However, it\u2019s rare. It takes something really big for me to lose my temper.<\/p>\n So, for me, it\u2019s about staying calm, being kind, finding out the problem. Let\u2019s figure out a solution because I never want to fire anyone. I want to turn them around. Because if you fired everyone, you\u2019re not going to have anybody working for you because they\u2019re not going to have the perfect person every time. So it\u2019s just spending the time with them and saying, \u201cHey, this isn\u2019t OK.\u201d Giving them reasons why.<\/p>\n So my approach is with kindness until such time, if they\u2019re so insubordinate, like I have had in the past. I just say, \u201cListen, I tried. You kind of fired yourself, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n You have mentored your crew, especially women, and encouraged them in careers in yachting. Why is that important to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n Giving back is important to me and when you have people who work under you, I think every leader should do that.<\/p>\n Generations have responsibilities to younger generations, like you just have that. Like you want to carry it forward to say, \u201cHey, do you like this career? I\u2019ll help you get there. I\u2019ll help you navigate some obstacles.\u201d That\u2019s just, in my opinion, human nature.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve shared insights about maintaining your sobriety. Any advice for people trying to stay sober or looking to drink less?<\/strong><\/p>\n I can only speak to sobriety because I don\u2019t comprehend drinking less, because I\u2019m an alcoholic, so I think for people who are sober, getting sober, abstinence is everything. Change your people, places and things for now, even if it\u2019s your family, like I really didn\u2019t hang out with my family for a long time because I used to party with my family.<\/p>\n I worked the 12 steps. I got a sponsor and it took me a long time to get there. I was in and out for a long time, and then, I finally got it and I wouldn\u2019t trade that for anything, because I do live a life beyond my wildest dreams.<\/p>\n What can viewers expect from the new season in Croatia?<\/strong><\/p>\n