Captain Sandy Yawn: The Exceptional Below Deck Captain

The Journey of Captain Sandy

Captain Sandy Yawn from Below Deck Mediterranean has proved she’s an excellent Below Deck captain through her actions in the last seven years. The 59-year-old reality star debuted on the Bravo show in 2017. She replaced the former Below Deck Med captain, Mark Howard, and stunned many viewers with her exceptional management skills. Unlike the strict Captain Lee Rosbach from Below Deck, whom fans had grown accustomed to seeing, Captain Sandy gave a unique spin to the show. She brought dominant female energy, making the spin-off stand out.

Below Deck's Captain Sandy Yawn and Glenn Shephard, with raised arms in the middle wearing handcuffs

Captain Sandy hails from Florida and grew up close to the ocean. She finished her earlier education at Brandon High School and acquired her maritime degree soon after. Captain Sandy dealt with many substance addiction issues in her early adulthood. However, she overcame them with sheer dedication and kept thriving at her job to become a Captain. In 2023, Sandy completed seven successful years on Below Deck Med and celebrated a life milestone. She got engaged to her partner, Leah Shafer, and announced the big news on Instagram in September 2023.

Captain Sandy Yawn from Below Deck Mediterranean in a light blue top smiling

Twitter article posted by Captain Sandy Yawn

Exceptional Work Ethic and Leadership

As of 2023, Bravo has launched five successful Below Deck spin-offs with over five excellent captains. However, no one appears to be on the level of Captain Sandy, as she’s a perfect example of what work ethic and dedication look like. Sandy has helped countless crew members through her calm demeanor and inspiring attitude over the years. She doesn’t just work hard but also pushes her crew to excellence. Since 2017, many cast members like Hayley De Sola Pinto from Below Deck have revealed how Captain Sandy’s harshness has helped them become better workers and people.

Below Deck Med Captain Sandy Yawn wearing an olive puffy jacket and smiling gleefully for the camera

Captain Sandy’s work ethic has always been a topic of discussion. In 2019, she opened up about it in an interview and revealed the real reason behind her work-centric mindset. She said (via Bravo), “my childhood was one of work, that’s why my work ethic is so strong.” Sandy claimed she grew up in extreme conditions after her parents divorced. According to Sandy, she almost grew up like a “child slave.”

Montage of Below Deck Med’s Captain Sandy and Below Deck Down Under's Captain Jason

Breaking Barriers and Overcoming Challenges

Sandy stands out because she’s the only female captain in the Below Deck franchise. While it may not mean much to some, the sole fact that she’s a captain in the yachting industry proves she’s way better than most. According to Volygroup.com, the yachting industry is predominantly full of males. In comparison, only 17% of females are board directors, 4% are chief officers, and 2% are yacht captains. Captain Sandy’s hard-boiled career as a yacht captain for many years is a testament to her skills and prowess.

Montage of Tumi and Kyle from Below Deck Mediterranean

A good leader always has a great backstory, and Captain Sandy is no different. She had a tough past and learned from her mistakes. When Sandy was very young, she became addicted to alcohol, which turned her life upside down. Not only did her addiction hurt her career, but it almost cost Sandy her life. She had to go to jail, overcome accidents, go through bankruptcy, and survive a heart attack and cancer. Sandy only made it because she overcame her addiction.

Montage Of Captain Sandy Luka Brunton Below Deck