Below Deck Sailing Yacht is the third installment in Bravo’s Below Deck empire. The franchise became a breakout hit amongst viewers for its depiction of the luxury yachting industry, while also documenting the lives of crew members and wealthy guests as they sail port to port around dreamy aquatic destinations. The spinoff first premiered in 2020, introducing a new captain to join the ranks of Captain Lee and Captain Sandy.
Captain Glenn Shepherd became an instant fan favorite. His passion and knowledge about sailing shines in each episode, and fans and crew appreciate Glenn’s captain style. He knows how to let the crew members stir up the drama on the choppy waters, while he stays in the galley and far away from the messy hook-ups and fights. Below Deck Sailing Yacht delivers when it comes to ratings, and last years’ second season had averaged over 1 million views. So of course, the franchise returned for a third season with a mix of returning crew members and new faces aboard the Parisfal III sailing yacht. Here are the things that make Below Deck Sailing Yacht a unique addition to the expanded Below Deck universe.
6 ‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’ Features A New Luxury Yacht
Below Deck and Below Deck Mediterranean showcase the lives of rich guests aboard large luxury motor yachts. Despite the yachts being motorized, they require captains and crew members to make sure the mechanics and operations run smoothly, of course. Below Deck Sailing Yacht invites their guests to come aboard a luxury sailing yacht, where the main attraction of the vessel are the sails and sailing mechanics. Windy conditions aren’t the most appealing factor when aboard a motor yacht, but for sailing, windy conditions are very much desired. Parsifal III is the sailing yacht on season 3, which is a 180-foot-long boating vessel relying entirely on wind to chart its course. The sailing yacht is owned by the Italian shipyard Perini Navi.
5 More Interactive And Less Leisure Vacation
Compared to Below Deck and Below Deck Mediterranean, a sailing yacht requires the crew, and sometimes the guests, to be a little more “all hands on deck.” Literally. The motor yachts shown on the original reality series don’t always require intensive labor once they’re out at sea. A sailing yacht, on the other hand, relies heavily on wind patterns. Guests who choose a sailing yacht experience, as opposed to a luxury motor yacht, are aware of this more adventurous aspect - it isn’t just about lounging around, eating, and drinking. And sometimes the food and drinks spill over when the sailing yacht heals.
Noah Sampton, Bravo's SVP of Current Production told the Daily Dish podcast more about this difference between sailing and motor yachting. "It's a different style of yachting. It's a little bit more adventurous. It's a little bit more, kind of, down and dirty than the sort of polish and luxury of a super yacht.”
4 Everyone Loves Captain Glenn Shephard
Below Deck Sailing Yacht introduced a new yacht and a new captain to the Bravo-verse: Captain Glenn. His captain style is laid back and chill, while still taking the job seriously. He lets the crew figure out their own solutions to problems, and stays away from the drama. Unlike Captain Sandy who received backlash for her micromanaging style of leadership, Captain Glenn is the complete opposite. He has the respect of his crew members and guests love him too. "If you are too strict with people, you will kill their initiative, enthusiasm. They are adults. We’re all living on the same boat, and here the boss is still there. You have to walk a fine line to not be too overbearing when it’s on their time. As long as they are being respectful of the boat and each other, I cut them a little bit of slack," Captain Glenn said speaking with TV Insider.
3 This Spin-Off Sails To Different Locations
Below Deck gives viewers a taste of luxury dream destinations, from the Caribbean islands to Thailand, Saint Tropez, and more. Below Deck Sailing Yacht visits ports around the Balearic Islands, specifically Menorca and Majorca. During its first two seasons the yacht sailed around the Greek Islands and Croatia.
2 New 'Below Deck' Crew Members
Below Deck fans are familiar with iconic "yachties" like Kate Chastain, Eddie Lucas, Captain Lee, Captain Sandy, and chef Ben Robinson from seasons past. Below Deck Sailing Yacht introduced new crew members making memorable moments. Back for their second season are first mate Gary King, chief stewardess Daisy Kelliher, and chief engineer Colin MacRae.
Season two delivered plenty of drama amongst crew members, including one of the most jaw dropping moments between Dani Soares and Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux. Expect to see these new crew members aboard Parisfall III: Marcos Spaziani, Gabriela Barragan, Ashley Marti, Kelsi Goglia, and Tom Pearson.
1 Any Chance For A 'Below Deck' Crossover?
Below Deck Sailing Yacht's first season had one familiar face courtesy of chef Adam Glick, who was also the chef on Below Deck Mediterranean. Since it's happened before, featuring crew members from other Below Deck franchises, could that happen on future Below Deck Sailing Yacht episodes? Captain Glenn had some thoughts.
Speaking with Digital Spy Glenn was asked what crew member from the Below Deck universe he would love to work with. "I don't want to sound like I would swap one person for another...I think Eddie [Lucas, the bosun from Below Deck], I really like Eddie. Eddie seems to be really good at what he does."
Below Deck Sailing Yacht has become a breakout television show for Bravo, so a crossover of crew members shouldn't be ruled out.