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andy Yawn’s career on and around the water
has spanned 27 years, moving from earnest
boat cleaner to widely respected captain of
yachts up to 157 feet. One of only a handful of female
captains in the industry, Yawn has seen her share of
adventure, from being chased by pirates to containing
major fires on board.
Last year, Yawn’s career took a turn as she traded
three dimensions for two when the producers of the
Bravo television network hired her on as captain of
157-foot Heesen motoryacht Sirocco for season two of
the series “Below Deck Mediterranean.” She shared
with Editor-in-Chief Kenny Wooton some thoughts
on her life, her new gig and what her future may bring.Kenny Wooton: Yacht charter is the most expensive
holiday people can buy. Some professionals in the yacht-
ing industry have complained that the “Below deck”
franchise is not an accurate depiction of what luxury
yacht charter is really like. Are your crewmembers on “Below deck Mediterranean” the raucous, drinking and carous-
ing types we saw on previous “Below deck” installments?Sandy Ya w n: The yacht industry doesn’t really want to hear the truth, but the truth is, as a yacht captain running
charter boats, it’s a reality. The difference, in our professional world, is we make sure it stays below deck.
I’ve had crewmembers arrested, I’ve had crewmembers fighting, I’ve had crewmembers jumping overboard,
I’ve had some psychotic crewmembers. I’ve always thought we should develop a barge, put all the green crew-
members we’re going to hire at sea, give them the worst conditions, don’t feed them, deprive them of sleep and
see how they do emotionally. Oh, and add alcohol. The reality is, they make a lot of money really fast, they’re very
young and the first place they go is to the bar. Fatigue, starved for affection, alcohol—it’s the mixture and it exists.
Why I was so successful as a charter captain all these years is I was the glue of the crew. I didn’t fire crew,
because the reality, for a charter captain, is that it’s about impressing the brokers and making sure their clients
are happy. If you go through crew, you’re not a good charter captain.
We give all the tip money right after the charter. We have one or two days’ turnaround. You can’t keep them
prisoner. You have to let them go out and let go. Honestly, I don’t know if it’s going to be any different. I know my
style of management is very different from the other captains. I think, as a female, we must have different styles
than our male counterparts.KW: You’ve mentioned before, you believe there’s a difference between being a boss and a leader.It’s interesting because I got to see a little bit of what it could be and I am a leader. I am not a boss that just sitsSandy Yawn in her
‘office.’ Yawn is skipper
for season two of the
Bravo series ‘Below Deck
Mediterranean.’the new captain in the Bravo series ‘Below Deck Mediterranean’ speaks out on
her yachting career and her new gig as small-screen skipper.On Deck with Sandy Yawn