Captain Lee's Jaw-Dropping Verdict on Captain Sandy's 'Forged Paperwork Drama': A Crucial Lesson Learned

Captain Lee may no longer be part of the Below Deck franchise, but he remains well-informed about the ongoing drama. On his podcast "Salty With Captain Lee," which aired on Wednesday, October 4th, the reality star shared his opinion on Captain Sandy's decision to dismiss a bosun in the season 8 premiere due to concerning paperwork.

"When entering a foreign port as a captain, you are liable to undergo flag state inspection based on the flag you are sailing under. The local office has the authority to board the vessel at any given time, conducting a thorough inspection of both the crew and the boat itself," Lee clarified to his cohost, Sam DeCavalcanti, regarding the circumstances that prompted Sandy to review Ruan Irving's documents.

Lee acknowledged that there was some ambiguity in relation to the license submitted by Ruan.

"I had no idea that a bosun required a Yachtmasters certificate, which differs from a U.S. Coast Guard license that holds universal recognition," he continued. "A Yachtmasters license is only acknowledged for white boats, namely charter boats and privately owned yachts. It holds no validity on commercial vessels."

During the September 25 episode, Sandy became aware that Ruan had presented a medical license that was not certified. He confessed that he didn't have the original documents with him and had asked a friend to mail them. Later in the episode, Sandy received a call from the Port Authority notifying her that Ruan's Yachtmasters certificate displayed someone else's photo when scanned online.

“You must be joking. This is someone else’s image on Ruan’s certificate. This is a significant issue, it's on a whole new level. This is unacceptable,” exclaimed Sandy during her confessional. “The entire vessel could face arrest due to one crew member.”

Laurent Basset/Bravo

Ruan was unable to give a satisfactory explanation, stating, "We had to quickly obtain a ticket for one of the boats because ours expired. A man boarded the boat and provided us with tickets. I have been using that same ticket on boats for three years, and I sincerely believed it was valid."

Sandy, feeling unsure about the situation, asked Ruan to disembark the boat and find the necessary documentation. Later, he contacted her from outside the dock and informed her that he had no intention of coming back.

"I apologize, captain, but I doubt I will be able to resolve the ticket matter on time. To avoid further delay to the vessel, I have made the decision to return home and I don't plan on coming back," Sandy was informed over the phone. "I have decided to call it quits and head back to South Africa. I will take care of what needs to be sorted out from home."

Lee asserts that the matter should have been dealt with when the production team reviewed the cast's documents.

On Wednesday, he asserted that the captain is the sole person responsible for everything that occurs on the vessel. He expressed that the Port State Authority disregards the filming of the show as it does not contribute to their financial gain, indicating their lack of concern.

Furthermore, the former Below Deck member, who currently stars on Bravo's Couch Talk with Kate Chastain, raised doubts about how Sandy failed to notice the mistake. He questioned why she did not verify the credentials accordingly. Personally, he carefully evaluates the credentials of everyone boarding his boat and assumes full responsibility for their actions, emphasizing the seriousness with which he approaches this responsibility.

Lee clarified that he does not believe Sandy deliberately disregarded concerns regarding Ruan. He emphasized that it is Sandy's own responsibility and she should receive recognition accordingly for neglecting to address the issue. Lee expressed his perspective on the matter, stating that he finds it embarrassing to pass on documents without thoroughly examining them beforehand. He clarified that he does not suspect Sandy had any hidden motives, but regardless, she bears the ultimate responsibility.

He concluded: “I am sorry she had to go through that but that is a lesson well learned. Trust but verify.”

Below Deck Mediterranean airs on Bravo Mondays at 9 p.m. ET.

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Captain Lee Rosbach

Captain Sandy Yawn

Below Deck