Captain Sandy Yawn admitted to producers she had worries over returning bosun Nathan Gallagher, after a disastrous crash into the dock during the Below Deck Mediterranean Season 11 premiere. As Nathan and Sandy unpacked the collision, she grew weary of his inability to learn from the situation and move on.
“Nathan, you want me to get mad at you and scream?” she asked him, as he dwelled on what went wrong. To producers, she confessed, “I am concerned. I can see how upset Nathan is. But, we have a charter starting in less than half of a day. You can’t linger in that place. Just, keep moving.”
She tried to point out the positives of the situation to him: “The good news is, the boat’s intact. Fairing, paint—repairable.” She also tried to reassure him it was just a growing step. “You gotta learn, don’t let this s—t bother you like that. You’re the leader of the team. You don’t have time to be down,” she explained. “It’s superficial. We still need to pick up charter tomorrow. Correct the mistake, and be better tomorrow.”
But it was clear by the first morning of the first charter that Nathan was still upset about the crash, and he conceded to producers it was “hard to find that positive outlook.”
“Last night, you need to leave that in yesterday, and get your head in today,” Sandy reminded him. She then explained her idea to improve communications during future dockings: include chief stew Aesha Scott.
“This marina, we gotta have two people on the stern lines, and two people on the bow. I’m gonna make a suggestion. Bring Aesha on the bow, and that frees up your hands,” she proposed. Nathan was happy to have Aesha’s help, and commented, “She’s an asset wherever you put her.”
Nathan Gallagher shares why he feels “pressure” as a returning bosun in Below Deck Med Season 11
Nathan admitted during the June 8 supersized premiere that he was battling struggles both professionally and personally.
“I do know it’s going to be difficult,” Nathan confessed to producers. “Listen, I’m still trying to find my feet in the bosun role. And I’m also just trying to find my feet in this new dad role. I want to be a good partner. I mean, moral of the story is, ‘I feel f—king pressure.’”
In case you need a refresher, it’s not Nathan’s first time feeling under a microscope as a bosun. He was newly promoted to the position under Sandy during Below Deck Med Season 10, and experienced stormy seas then as well, with Sandy calling one docking “complete chaos” during Episode 2.
RELATED: Captain Sandy Slams Nathan Gallagher and Joe Bradley in Below Deck Med Season 11 Trailer
But, things improved for him as a leader by the end of Season 10. “This season felt like I’ve gone through a f–kin’ tornado, a tsunami,” he commented to producers during the season finale. “I cannot believe we’ve made it this far. Yeah, I’m just proud of myself.”
Sandy Yawn explains her leadership style as a captain on Below Deck Med Season 11
Although Sandy was devastated to experience her first-ever crash, she didn’t show her anger or panic to the crew during the June 8 premiere.
“Obviously, this sucks. But, I think because I’ve been through so much in my life, it does take a lot to rattle me,” she explained to producers of her ability to stay calm.
As far as her leadership tactics she added, “If something happens, you know how some people get excited, and ‘Oh my god!’? I’ve always gone quiet. I want to find my way out. So the only way to do that is to be calm, clear-headed, and strategic.”
RELATED: See a Complete List of All the Below Deck Captains Over the Years
Despite the mishap ahead of the first charter, Sandy expressed she still trusted Nathan. “Akira One’s an older boat. So you know, it’s solid. It’s survived the test of time,” she commented to producers.
She then shed more light on how it’s more difficult for the deck crew in Season 11 versus Season 10. “It’s a bigger boat than Bravado. We have to set two anchors every time. It’s more of a challenge for the deck crew because there’s a lot more working parts,” she detailed, and then added, “I trust Nathan. We got this.”
ICYMI, Captain Sandy shared an update on where she stands with Aesha going into Below Deck Med Season 11.
