Captain Sandy Yawn is reassuring worried viewers about her future on Below Deck Mediterranean, saying she wants to stay “for the rest of my life” as long as the show will have her. She also tees up where the franchise goes next as Season 11 arrives June 8 in D
Captain Sandy Yawn knows exactly why some Below Deck Mediterranean viewers might be nervous—especially after celebrating 15 seasons on screen. But when she talks about her next move, the message is simple: her spot at the helm isn’t going anywhere.
“With Below Deck. I want to do that for the rest of my life — as long as they have me. ” Sandy gushed exclusively. For a captain who’s been at the center of the franchise since Below Deck Mediterranean first premiered in 2017 (she’s been in charge ever since Season 2). her answer lands like a promise to the people who’ve spent years watching her lead.
Sandy also doesn’t hide that her appetite for TV is still growing. She said she’d like to branch out. floating the idea of “another show — like Traitors” or “another Bravo crossover show.” If the network ever wants to get creative. she added. “we could have a crossover on our vessel like Below Deck Down Under had.”.
Still, when it comes to what’s in front of her now, she sounds energized rather than nostalgic. “It doesn’t feel like 10 years. But when I look in the mirror and I’m like, ‘It’s been 10 years,’” Sandy quipped. “I’d really cool because to get to be the captain on the same show for 10 years is incredible. I’m so grateful that I get asked back.”.
She credits what she calls “having a consistent crew” with keeping her invested year after year. “I get to see the growth from them over the years,” Sandy said, adding that looking back on the charters she’s led across the Below Deck franchise has been “really awesome.”
Sandy pointed to one particular chapter—when she took over Captain Lee Rosbach’s show for a bit—as proof that those shifts mattered. “Even when I took over Captain Lee [Rosbach]’s show for a bit. Al; those experiences mean something to me — and has through the years just made me a better captain.”
There’s also a lesson she says she’s carried forward: “The practice of pausing and then drawing from experience and making decisions based on my past experiences [has been a big lesson]. I think is something that was a big lesson for me.”
The timing of what happens next is already locked in. Bravo will bring Below Deck Mediterranean back for Season 11 on Monday, June 8, in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Sandy will be joined by familiar faces including Aesha Scott, Joe Bradley, and Nathan Gallagher.
For Sandy, the season’s biggest emotional pull is tied to Nathan. She described his new reality onboard and off the water. saying the show’s first plot line involves bosun Nathan splitting his time between work on the water and time on land with partner Gael Cameron and their new baby. “The fact that we were able to do that for him was great,” Sandy noted. “Every time I saw Nathan. he seemed very excited to see his family. but when he would come back. he was very tired!”.
Aesha’s storyline comes with its own balancing act. Sandy said Aesha had to address her work-life balance issues—handling catering to guest demands while also planning her wedding. “Coming back this season. I was a little wary. ” Aesha said to Us. explaining she was preparing for her wedding while expecting the grind to be tough. “But it honestly ended up being my favorite season ever!”.
Joe Bradley returns too, and Sandy doesn’t gloss over how Season 10 affected him. Joe told Us, “I understand it’s not a comfortable position — even as a viewer — so watching myself back, I have learned from the situation. I’m really focused on my job right now.”
All of it lands in a familiar rhythm for fans, with Below Deck Mediterranean airing on Bravo Mondays at 8 p.m. ET and new episodes streaming the next day on Peacock.
For Sandy, though, the most important development is personal: when viewers wonder if she’s planning to step away, she keeps pointing back to one answer—she wants to stay as long as the show wants her.
Captain Sandy Yawn Below Deck Mediterranean Below Deck Med Season 11 Dubrovnik Croatia Bravo Peacock Aesha Scott Joe Bradley Nathan Gallagher Gael Cameron bosun Nathan chief stew reality TV