Captain Jason Chambers embarked on Below Deck Down Under Season 4’s first charter while unexpectedly short one new crew member: stew Joe Caron.
Joe abruptly quit just prior to The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast’s arrival during the Season 4 premiere, due to a “family emergency” (more on that below). On the Below Deck Down Under After Show, Captain Jason explained why Joe’s early departure didn’t rock the boat as much as viewers might expect.
“If someone’s even thinking about leaving, I’d rather just get rid of them now,” he said, referencing how he had previously fired sous chef Anthony Bird during Season 3. “I’d rather the team be shorthanded and work through that pressure, knowing that they got through as a team. And then they get stronger.”
RELATED: Meet the Below Deck Down Under Season 4 Crew — Including the Stew Who Leaves (Official Bios & Photos)
What’s more, Captain Jason said he also viewed Joe’s exit as a “great opportunity” for second stew Jenna Woudberg.
“Jenna’s gonna step up here; she shines here,” he elaborated, before further predicting that she and chief stew Daisy Kelliher would become “thick as thieves.”
Why stew Joe Caron quit on the BDDUÂ Season 4 premiere
Joe had barely gained her sea legs on M/YÂ Katina when she received an urgent phone call from her father, while preparing to welcome the RHOSLC ladies during BDDU‘s Feb. 2 crossover episode. Translated from French, Joe’s dad informed her that her maternal grandfather had been hospitalized.
Daisy, meanwhile, had entered their shared cabin to change into her dress whites when she discovered Joe crying.
“I’m really sorry, but, like, I need to go,” Joe told Daisy, before explaining that her grandfather was ill. “I want to go, but I don’t want you to be put in this situation.”
In a confessional, Joe shared that her grandfather had been sick with cancer for roughly a year, and the disease had spread from his lungs to his brain.
“I feel terrible, but I’m already stressed about my family,” she said. “And if I stay here, it’s gonna be more and more and more.”
How Captain Jason Chambers reacted to Joe Caron’s departure on BDDU
After reassuring Joe that they would “be fine” without her and encouraging her to “not stress” about leaving, Daisy broke the news to Captain Jason moments before the RHOSLC ‘Wives arrived dockside. Despite the challenges the stew’s unexpected absence would create for him and his crew, he kept an even keel.
RELATED:Â “F–k Up of the Century” Occurs on Below Deck Down Under Right Before RHOSLC Cast Boards
“Look, I’ve been in yachting a long time,” Captain Jason told a producer. “I’ve seen crew come and go during charter, at the start of charter, at the end of charter. Look, we just can’t let this rock the boat. We need to keep on, be positive, and get through it.”
While announcing Joe’s departure amid a “family emergency” to the yachties, he attempted to impart a similar message, along with some instructions on how they should proceed.
“Have a look at your teammate, know that they need an extra pair of hands, [and] pitch in everywhere,” Captain Jason encouraged the remaining yachties ahead of the high-pressure charter. “If we can’t beat ’em with hands on deck, we’re gonna beat them with happiness and vibrance, OK? We’ll get through it. Let’s get out there.”
Soon afterward, while Daisy gave the RHOSLC ladies a tour of the yacht, the captain quietly escorted Joe off the vessel, while lending her his full support.
As Joe explained to him, “My mind cannot concentrate if I have to be with my family,” Jason responded, “You’re doing the right thing. You’ve gotta remember that.”
After wishing Joe good luck and his hope that “everything’s fine” back home in Montreal, Canada, Captain Jason eventually texted a recruiter about his immediate need for a new stew.
In the meantime, get a sneak peek at what’s ahead on BDDU Season 4, as the remaining yachties navigate some drama-filled charters around Canouan.
