8 Ways I Think Bravo Can Revamp Below Deck Sailing Yacht (2024)

Below Deck Sailing Yacht is set to return in the fall of 2024, but with some controversy surrounding the show during its hiatus, there are some ways I believe things could be reworked and revamped for the upcoming season. With Below Deck one of the most popular franchises on Bravo, the spin-off series have been a major part of the franchises’ success through the years. For shows like Below Deck Sailing Yacht, which have been met with success and controversy in equal measure, there’s been some question about the future of the series.

Beginning in 2020, Below Deck Sailing Yacht has slowly become one of the most popular spin-offs in the franchise. Following a sailing yacht, Parsifal III, headed by Captain Glenn Shephard through the waters of the Mediterannean, the series focuses on similar elements of charter season life as other Below Deck shows, but highlights some of the complexities of working on a sailing yacht as opposed to the standard superyacht. With a large, dynamic crew working on Parsifal III, Below Deck Sailing Yacht has the best of both worlds.

Throughout Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 4, the show’s most recent season, many began to feel like there were cracks developing in the foundation of the cast. While the crew, comprised of long-time members like Chief Stew Daisy Kelliher and First Officer Gary King, has had some issues through the years, they’ve also been able to come together and get their work done, keeping the charter season running smoothly. The most recent season of the series saw the dynamics of the crew shaken up entirely when Daisy and Chief Engineer Colin Macrae chose to act on their longtime feelings.

While Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 4 saw Daisy and Colin finally acting on their long-time feelings for one another, things quickly got murky between the pair and their friend Gary, who’d been a proponent of their connection until it was actually happening. Gary, who had been casually flirting with more than one woman on the charter season’s crew, seemed to be interested in Mads Herrerra during the season. Even so, Gary’s jealousy over Colin and Daisy’s relationship was a struggle that neither knew how to tackle. By the season’s reunion episode, their relationship had come to an end.

After Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 4, allegations against Gary came out with a Below Deck franchise makeup artist explaining that he’d been sexually aggressive with her during their time filming the series. While Gary denied the accusations, it was clear that something had gone awry. Bravo quickly took Gary off the schedule for the next BravoCon and seemingly shelved Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 until late this summer, when it was announced the show would be returning. I believe that even with Gary potentially ruining the series, there are ways to revamp the next season of the show.

8 A New Captain Might Be Needed

Captain Glenn Is Too Close With Gary

Although Captain Glenn has been working aboard Parsifal III for years and has been the captain on the first several seasons of Below Deck Sailing Yacht, I believe it could be time for the show to find a replacement. Captain Glenn is one of the less present captains in the Below Deck franchise, meaning viewers spend very little time with him. Rather than bringing the captain into their issues, the crew typically works around him instead.

With Captain Glenn being featured less than the traditional Below Deck captain, it could be time for the show to find someone more dynamic to fill his role. While the captain doesn’t need to take up much screentime, it’s likely that having a captain who has a less skewed perception of the cast, the way Glenn does with his longtime First Officer Gary, could be a bit more impartial. Captain Glenn being replaced would pave the way for new Below Deck captains to be featured on the show.

7 Love Triangles That Don't Involve Gary

He Doesn’t Need To Be Involved In Romantic Relationships

Although there have been romances on Below Deck Sailing Yacht that don’t feature Gary, the predominant boatmances and love triangles have typically had Gary involved or in the middle. During Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 4, there was a major love triangle that had viewers waiting impatiently for more information, but Gary’s involvement wasn’t the draw. Colin and Daisy, who had been friends for years and had also been friendly with Gary independently, gave into their feelings for one another and got into a boatmance that quickly turned into more.

The love triangle between Colin, Daisy, and Gary sparked because Gary was jealous of his friends getting into a relationship aboard Parsifal III. While Gary and Daisy had been friends who flirted occasionally over the years, she’d expressed that she didn’t have genuine romantic interest in him early on in Below Deck Sailing Yacht’s run. While her relationship with Colin ultimately didn’t last, she wasn’t interested in Gary, either. Featuring love triangles can be fun, but on Below Deck Sailing Yacht, they shouldn’t involve Gary in the future.

6 A Location Outside Of The Mediterranean

Changing Up The Location Could Refresh The Show

Although the majority of the time that Below Deck Sailing Yacht has been on the air has featured the sailing yacht in the Mediterranean, a change of scenery could be great for the series moving forward. Throughout the show’s run, the Parsifal III has visited several countries on the coast of the Mediterranean. With Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 1 exploring Greece, the second season’s charter traveled through Croaitia, then Spain, and finally Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 4 chartered through the waters of Italy.

Even though the locations have changed from season to season and remained consistently beautiful, there’s something to be said about the location potentially changing in an upcoming season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht. Rather than continuing to travel the same style of waters, the sailing yacht crew should travel somewhere new. This worked well on Below Deck season 7, shaking things up for the crew and viewers alike.

5 Bring Back Some Fan Favorite Below Deck Sailing Yacht Cast Members

A Returning Cast Member Can Bring A Charter To Life

While Below Deck Sailing Yacht typically has cast members who return season after season, there have been some crew that have been on the show for a short time and left the series entirely. Typically, the crew members who tend not to return for charter after charter are the chefs of the franchise, and Below Deck Sailing Yacht would benefit from the return of an incredible chef in the future. While it’s unclear who will be working in the galley on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5, bringing back Chef Marcos Spaziani would be a great choice in the future.

While Chef Marcos left Below Deck Sailing Yacht with a heavy heart after the show’s third season, it’s possible he could return in the future and create more culinary magic aboard Parsifal III. There are other cast members I feel would be fun to have return to the show, as well. Though it’s not clear which stews will be returning on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5, it would be great to see Lucy Edmunds and Mads Herrera back aboard Parsifal III. Many would likely enjoy seeing previous cast members return ot the series.

4 Shake Up The Core Three: Daisy Gary, & Colin

Which Of The Core Should Return?

Although the core of Below Deck Sailing Yacht will be shaken up during season 5 with Colin Macrae not returning to the series, it’s possible he could come back to the show in the future. With just Daisy and Gary left, there’s still potential for two thirds of the trio to return to the series and overtake the storylines. Though their love triangle was enjoyable on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 4, it was difficult to watch for some viewers and left a sour taste in their mouths.

Moving forward, Daisy should be the only member of the core to return to Below Deck Sailing Yacht in the future. Colin, though a great member of the crew, wasn’t always a dynamic member of the cast himself. Though he had a wonderful work ethic, his story was heightened by Daisy and Gary, who bring a bit more drama. While Gary has been a dynamic cast member of the series, his life outside the show is proving too tumultuous for him to continue to be part of the series long-term.

3 Bring Back Former Charter Guests

Returning Guests Could Create Fun Charters

While the majority of Below Deck shows have interesting charter guests, Below Deck Sailing Yacht has had some of the most interesting guests in the franchise. With such interesting guests having been on the show in the past, it would be fun to see returning charter guests on Below Deck Sailing Yacht in the future. With some of the crew members likely already familiar with the guests, the charter itself may be easier, or may prove to be more difficult when the guests already understand the standard of service expected on Parsifal III.

Though I feel there are many charter guests I’d like to see return for another trip with the Below Deck Sailing Yacht crew, the guests I’d like to see back the most are , who were the most interesting people to watch on the show. Barrie and Tony’s relationship has changed drastically since their time on the series, but Below Deck Sailing Yacht would welcome the pair back and enjoy seeing what they got up to on another charter. With returning charter guests, the crew could focus more on reconnection and fun surprises rather than standard service.

2 Bring On Cast Members Who Bring Drama

Below Deck Vets & New Cast Members Could Change Things

Although there are Below Deck Sailing Yacht cast members who seem like they’re sure to bring the drama, the majority of the crew members who are still with the show are more low key. With Daisy and Gary being the only two remaining members of the core trio in the cast, Gary could bring some drama to Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 that many aren’t looking forward to. Instead, it would be great to see veterans from Below Deck Sailing Yacht and other Below Deck shows join in on the fun and create new drama.

Like Aesha Scott crossing from Below Deck Mediterranean to Below Deck Down Under and back again, it would be fun to see yachties from other shows in the franchise make the leap to Below Deck Sailing Yacht. Personally, I think it would be interesting to see troublemakers like Ben Willoughby or Barbie Pascual from Below Deck make their way to Captain Glenn’s sailing yacht on Below Deck Sailing Yacht. Cast members from other shows in the franchise would also be interesting.

1 Get Rid Of Gary King

He Doesn’t Deserve The Spotlight

While there’s likely nothing that can help Gary being featured on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5, his future on the series shouldn’t be a guarantee. Though there hasn’t been any word on what could happen in the future, Gary’s removal from Below Deck Sailing Yacht moving forward would be a great step in the right direction. Despite there being no confirmation if the sexual misconduct allegations against Gary are legitimate, treating them as though they are would be the best move for Bravo rather than siding with someone who already has a reputation.

Even without the sexual misconduct allegations plaguing him, Gary has been one of the worst parts of Below Deck Sailing Yacht throughout the years. His playboy nature and casual stance on his relationships with women isn’t charming or cute, especially when he’s well into his 40s. Gary’s immaturity has made it difficult to watch Below Deck Sailing Yacht at times, and his removal from the show would be the right move for the show’s future.

Source: Below Deck/Instagram

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

TV-14

Reality-TV

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*Availability in US

Below Deck Sailing Yacht is a spin-off of the Below Deck reality television series. Premiering on Bravo, the show follows the life of a Yacht crew as they attempt to navigate a busy Charter season in which many customers make use of a 177-foot sailing yacht. Over the first three seasons, the yacht has been to Greece, Croatia, and Spain.

Cast

Glenn Shephard , Colin Macrae , Gary King , Daisy Kelliher

Release Date

February 3, 2020

Seasons

4

Network

Bravo

Franchise(s)

Below Deck

Showrunner

Mark Cronin , Doug Henning , Rebecca Taylor Henning

Main Genre

Reality-TV