Captain Kerry Titheradge was no stranger to deck crew problems after firing his first bosun Caio Poltronieri early in Season 12 of Below Deck following a series of issues, including guest luggage left behind at the dock. But when his second bosun of the season, Hugo Ortega, made a massive mistake during Episode 15, Kerry was once again fuming.
It came after the captain radioed Hugo on night one of the final charter to inform him he was going to bed, putting Hugo “on watch.” The only problem: producers showed Hugo was busy performing in a Barbie-themed fashion show for the guests.
At 11:45 p.m., Kerry went back into the bridge, and checked the log book, then asked: “What the f—k is going on here?” As he left the bridge, he also uttered, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
The next morning, Kerry confronted Hugo about the problem.
“So, last night, I came up here to check on things before I went down,” Kerry told him in the Sept. 8 episode. “And it had been, I think, at least two hours since an entry was made in the log book. That’s two and a half hours that the position of the vessel wasn’t checked on. What was the reason it wasn’t done?”
Hugo explained what happened: “Hours were weird, and then with the whole dress up, it just slipped, and I forgot.”
Kerry was quick to explain why he was so angry.
“If something did happen, if a link did break, and we ended up on those rocks down there, or ended up on another yacht, and the investigators come and check the log book, I’m the a—hole,” he lectured Hugo. “I expect more than that from you.”
Hugo admitted to Captain Kerry he was in the wrong, telling him, “Sorry about that, and won’t happen again, for sure.”
Hugo was also upset with himself for the simple error.
“F—k my life. I just wish I could get sucked straight into the ground right now,” he confessed. “Also at this level, and at this point, you know, I also feel like I’m above certain mistakes, which, this is one of those that falls into that category.”
Captain Kerry Titheradge gives Hugo Ortega a huge opportunity in Below Deck Season 12, Episode 15
Earlier in the Sept. 8 episode, at the start of the final charter, Captain Kerry decided to give his bosun a big opportunity.
“It looks to me like you’re getting s—t sorted on deck,” he told the deck crew, including Hugo, lead deckhand Jess Theron, and deckhands Kyle Stillie and Damo Yorg, who had all pulled off an “impossible” docking during the previous charter. Then he shared what he was giving Hugo the chance to do.
“When we go and anchor up, come to the wheelhouse, watch me drop the anchor, and then at the end of the charter, you can drop it at Simpson Bay,” he offered.
RELATED: Captain Kerry Makes A Damning Statement On Jess Theron’s “Mistake”
Hugo was thrilled at the idea of showing off his skills to the captain.
“I’m really taken aback, but incredibly excited about anchoring the ship,” Hugo said in his confessional. “I want to be a captain of a vessel this size. So, it’s great to be given the freedom and I guess the space to fly.”
Hugo knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance: “This is a really good opportunity to prove myself, and show him, ‘Yeah, I take this career seriously.’ This is what I’m here for.”
Despite the mistake with the log books, Kerry decided to go forward with Hugo’s chance to anchor the St. David in Simpson Bay in Sint Maarten.
“Hugo recovered from his mistake very quickly,” Kerry explained in the Sept. 8 episode. “He didn’t make excuses for it. And I still want to give him this opportunity.”
He added, “I had a great mentor that would get me to do jobs that I didn’t think I was ready to do. A good mentor will push you out of your comfort zone for you to succeed.”
Hugo opened up about why this anchorage would be the toughest task he’d attempted in his career.
“This is a really key moment in my yachting career,” he shared. “I’ve driven 45 meters in and out of anchorages all the time, and moving up to this size vessel, that’s a lot bigger in terms of yacht. The tonage is probably close to double. It’s a lot more complex. It’s a lot more intricate.”
RELATED: Captain Kerry Blasts The Below Deck Crew After Near “Crash”: “I Am F—king Livid”
Hugo was also keen to pull the anchorage off after his earlier log book error.
“I’m really anxious to be able to prove myself and do it right. And I want to make sure that everything is perfect,” he admitted.
Working side by side with Kerry, Hugo successfully anchored St. David.
“I’m so relieved. I’m so happy,” Hugo shared. “It’s like being a baby bird, pushed out to fly. Just this morning, [Captain Kerry] was still feeding me.”
Kerry was proud of his bosun, telling him, “Good job mate!” He also pointed out Hugo’s achievement: “You’ve anchored a 60 meter boat.”
Inside Captain Kerry’s issues with the Below Deck crew during Season 12
Although all turned out well with Hugo, Kerry has had several other issues with his crew members this season. During Episode 3, he grew frustrated with the interior crew for numerous laundry issues, and in Episode 13, he called out Jess for a notable anchor mistake.
During Episode 14, Kerry was taken aback by the way Soléne Favreau spoke to him in front of the crew.
“I don’t think she quite understands how to talk to your superior. Especially the captain of the vessel,” he said in his confessional interview. “The fact is this. She’s the one who needs to start doing her work.”
Don’t miss Captain Kerry unpacking his shocking reunion with charter guest Kelly after he kicked her off the boat.
