Captain Sandy's Explosive Statement: The Truth Behind Her Decision to Never Work with Ruan Irving Again!
Captain Sandy Yawn of Below Deck reveals her thoughts on bosun Ruan Irving's knowledge of the forged documents, shedding light on their working relationship during season 8 of Below Deck Med
Captain Sandy has gained valuable knowledge from the shocking incident involving Ruan Irving's false document on Below Deck Mediterranean. When questioned on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Sandy was prompted about her intentions to collaborate with Ruan in the future.
"I haven't [spoken to him]," she informed a fan during the aftershow. "Absolutely not, [I wouldn't collaborate with him]. Never, under any circumstances. No, I apologize."
The captain had previously disclosed on the show that she believed Ruan was already aware of the falsity of his documents when he embarked on the yacht.
Season 8 of the popular Bravo hit series got off to a turbulent start in September when Sandy learned that her bosun's documents might not be authentic. Ruan confessed that he only had copies of his medical license and was instructed to have the original documents sent to him.
Later in the premiere, Sandy received a phone call from the Port Authority. It was discovered that Ruan's Yachtmasters paperwork contained someone else's photo when it was scanned online.
Sandy expressed disbelief and frustration, exclaiming that another person's photo was on Ruan's certificate. She emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that it was on a completely different level and completely unacceptable. She further explained that the entire vessel could potentially face legal consequences due to the actions of one crew member.
Ruan appeared taken aback by the news and revealed that they were in a rush to obtain a ticket for one of the boats, leading them to accept assistance from an individual who provided them with their tickets. Ruan emphasized that they had been using the same ticket for three years and were completely unaware that it was fraudulent.
Ruan initially promised to obtain the necessary documents to rejoin the boat. However, he later informed Sandy that he had changed his mind and had no intention of returning.
"Apologies, captain, but I don't believe I'll be able to sort out the ticket in time. I don't want to prolong the vessel's wait any further, so I've decided to return home and won't be coming back," he conveyed to Sandy during the September episode. "I've made up my mind to quit and head back to South Africa. I'll just go home and take care of what needs to be sorted."
Captain Lee, a former Below Deck star, has raised concerns about why Sandy failed to conduct proper research before the boat embarked on its journey. In the latest episode of his podcast, "Salty With Captain Lee," he emphasized that the captain is solely responsible for everything that occurs on the vessel. He also highlighted that the Port State Authority is indifferent to television filming as it does not benefit them financially.
"Why didn't she cross-check his credentials? I have no clue. I thoroughly examine the credentials of every individual boarding my boat, and I take this responsibility seriously. I can't imagine Sandy deliberately overlooking the error," Lee concluded.
The responsibility lies with her. The awards she receives will be a reflection of her failure to address the problem. The captain is the one who should take charge. Personally, I would find it quite embarrassing to submit documents without first examining them. Do I think she was intentionally deceptive? No. However, it doesn't matter because she holds the ultimate accountability. I do feel sorry that she had to experience this, but it serves as a valuable lesson. Trust, but verify.
Catch Below Deck Mediterranean on Bravo every Monday at 9 p.m. ET.
In this article
