below deck sailing yacht who had drugs

‘Below Deck’ guests facing sea of legal trouble in prescription drug plot, authorities say

A doctor who appeared on a hit Bravo reality show was arrested on Long Island — accused of stealing the identities of cast members of the show in a scheme to obtain prescription drugs, according to law enforcement officials.

Dr. Francis Martinis — a urologist in Fort Salonga — and his wife, Jessica Martinis, who both appeared on the Bravo reality-show franchise “Below Deck,” are accused of allegedly using the personal information of other cast members to write bogus prescriptions for oxycodone.

Investigators said the scheme started to unfold earlier this year, when Jessica Martinis went to a pharmacy in Kings Park in an attempt to fill a bogus oxycodone prescription in January. According to those officials, the handwritten prescription raised concerns, prompting a pharmacist to call police.

dr frank francis martinis below deck bravo

A subsequent investigation revealed that the doctor had sent dozens of prescriptions for oxycodone to Suffolk County pharmacies over a two-year period, law enforcement officials said. Many of these prescriptions were allegedly fake — written under the names of two “Below Deck” cast members.

Investigators said that Jessica Martinis would pick up the prescriptions and pay in cash as part of the alleged plot.

The duo was arrested in May and charged with eight counts of criminal sale of controlled substance and falsifying business records, law enforcement officials said.

Investigators are not revealing whether they believe the couple was using or reselling the drugs, or both.

Former New York Homeland Security Director Michael Balboni said the allegations are serious, especially amid an ongoing national addiction and overdose crisis.

“He abused the celebrity position that he had on that ship to take the identities of his crew members — if that is proven — and then use that to buy drugs,” Balboni said. “That is a common scheme for a common criminal.”

The pair were among the guests who chartered Sirocco, a luxury yacht that set sail on the French Riviera in 2019 and had part of their trip documented for “Below Deck Mediterranean.” The doctor was a guest once again the following year, this time on another “Below Deck” spinoff, “Below Deck Sailing Yacht.” The series documented life on a 180-foot sailboat that cruised the Ionian Sea.

Following their appearances in the franchise, the doctor-and-wife duo attended promotional events with other crew members.

Peter A. Crusco, the attorney representing the couple, said his clients pleaded not guilty. "The evidence will show the charges are bogus and cannot be substantiated," he said.

Bravo, which is owned by NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News, did not respond to a request for comment.

Jonathan Dienst is chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC-TV in New York.

Courtney Copenhagen is an investigative producer for WNBC-TV in New York.

Is a Crew Member About to Get Kicked off 'Below Deck Sailing Yacht'?

Jun. 5 2020, Updated 1:08 p.m. ET

After the absolute dumpster fire that was last season’s Below Deck, Below Deck Sailing Yacht has been relatively smooth sailing—even idyllic, for a Bravo show.

However, the new spinoff sailing series has just entered the midseason mark, which is when the drama usually tends to heat up with the cast swapping make-out buddies, losing their tempers with each other and generally being all-around messes.

In the teasers for the second half of the season, audiences were tantalized to see the possibility of a threesome brewing between Paget, Ciara and Georgia, and, of course, more ongoing drama between the most annoying couple on the boat, Adam and Jenna .

But what really caught a lot of people’s attention in the teasers was when Captain Shephard said to Jenna, “I would be very surprised if somebody few to Corfu with cocaine.”

Naturally, audiences are clamoring to figure out just who got caught with cocaine in their bag and whether that’s the end of their professional sailing career. Fans of the show will also remember the infamous drug incident from Below Deck’ s premiere episode, and the show’s no-nonsense policy when it comes to illegal substances on-board.

Keep reading while we dig into Below Deck 's cocaine scandals.

Which crew member on 'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' got caught with with a stash of cocaine?

In the teaser scenes for Below Deck Sailing ’s March 30 episode, fans saw Captain Glenn confiding in Jenna, saying that he would be surprised if someone flew to Corfu with cocaine.

But in the next scene we see Captain Glenn rummaging through someone’s bag asking, “Is there anything in here that you don’t want me to find? What’s in here?” The captain ominously also adds that, “there might be a change of personnel.”

Although we don’t know exactly who the alleged drugs belong to, we do know that having illegal substances onboard is an extremely serious offense. If it turns out that Captain Glenn does find cocaine among any of the crew’s belongings, it’s safe to assume that they will be immediately fired and replaced on the boat.

What happened the last time someone found cocaine on the show?

Fans may recall the epic drug bust in the very first episode of Below Deck ’s Season 1 when stewardess Kat Held found a bag of white powder and a rolled-up dollar bill in a guest’s cabin. After Captain Lee was informed, he immediately turned his boat around to head to the dock, without even informing the charter guests until they were asked to leave the boat mid-charter .

Not only did the incident cement the no-nonsense tone of Captain’s Lee’s managing style with his crew and guests alike, it was also extremely entertaining television to watch a spoiled, rich charter guest like Johnny Eyelash (yes, that was his name) not realize what exactly was happening until he was unceremoniously kicked off the boat mid-charter.

"It was a tough situation to be in. On the one hand, we want clients to be happy. On the other hand, I don't want my boat to get boarded by the Coast Guard, and I don't want to go to jail for 25 years," Captain Lee said in his book, Running Against the Tide . "I made the decision to kick them off the boat.”

We can’t wait to see the rest of this season’s drama unfold on the Parsifal III. Tune in to Below Deck Sailing Yacht on Mondays at 9 p.m. on Bravo.

Does Chef Adam and Chief Stew Jenna's Boat-mance on 'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' Last?

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Chef Adam Was on TV Long Before His 'Below Deck' Days

Latest Below Deck News and Updates

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Below Deck Guests Arrested for Drug Scheme, Accused of Using Cast Members’ Names on Fake Prescriptions, Details Revealed

Authorities Claim Two Below Deck Med Charter Guests Were Arrested for Scheme Involving Bogus Opioid Prescriptions, Falsely Used Names of Two Other Castmembers

Authorities claim two Below Deck Mediterranean guests were arrested for plotting an opioid scheme – involving bogus prescriptions from a doctor who also appeared on Below Deck Sailing Yacht .

The urologist and his wife falsely used two other Below Deck cast members’ names while writing the prescriptions, said investigators.

According to officials in law enforcement, via nbcnewyork.com , Fort Salonga urologist Dr. Francis Martinis got arrested in Long Island. He was accused of stealing the cast members’ identities in a plot to get prescription drugs.

Officials accused Francis and his wife Jessica of writing fake prescriptions to obtain oxycodone, using the other cast members’ personal info.

Per the investigators, their plot began when the doctor’s wife tried to fill the fake prescription for oxycodone at a Kings Park pharmacy in January 2023 – and the pharmacist called the police after getting concerned about the handwritten prescription.

This prompted an investigation that showed that the urologist was sending oxycodone illegally to pharmacies in Suffolk County for two years, said officials. Many of the prescriptions allegedly were falsified, and the names of two Below Deck stars were used to write them up.

Officials claimed Jessica paid for the prescriptions in cash as she picked up the drugs.

“Doctors are supposed to be trusted members of the community and with that trust comes a tremendous amount of personal and professional responsibility,” said Raymond Tierney , the Suffolk County District Attorney. “Physicians are held to a high standard, as they take an oath to uphold a number of professional ethical standards when they begin their careers. The conduct Dr. Martinis allegedly engaged in with his wife not only violated this oath, but it also violated the law.”

Officials told the outlet that the couple, arrested in May, was charged with eight counts of falsifying business records and the criminal sale of a controlled substance.

“He abused the celebrity position that he had on that ship to take the identities of his crew members — if that is proven — and then use that to buy drugs,” said Michael Balboni , former New York Homeland Security Director, “that is a common scheme for a common criminal.”

The couple first appeared on Below Deck Mediterranean in 2019 on the French Riviera. A year later, the urologist also filmed as a guest for Below Deck Sailing Yacht.

But according to the couple’s lawyer Peter Crusco , they pleaded not guilty, and “evidence will show the charges are bogus and cannot be substantiated.”

“The DEA is rooted in an ‘all hands on deck’ approach to save lives from illegal drug misuse and abuse through enforcement, education, and prevention,” stated Frank Tarentino , the DEA Special Agent in Charge. “We identified two individuals who brazenly diverted controlled substances intended for medicinal purposes to the illegal drug market. These arrests are a reminder that a doctor’s illicit drug diversion can lead to irreparable harm like the drug overdoses and poisonings currently plaguing our nation.”

The couple was scheduled to go to court on Thursday.

“Prosecutors will want to send a message to all other physicians — you have special access to these drugs, you know how they work and if you do this you will be prosecuted,” said Balboni.

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Below Deck Med's Hannah Ferrier Speaks Out After Being Accused of Having Drugs On-Board

Chief stewardess Hannah Ferrier was accused of keeping drugs in her cabin during the latest episode of Below Deck Mediterranean

Below Deck Mediterranean star Hannah Ferrier is defending herself after she was accused on of stashing drugs aboard the yacht.

On Monday night's episode of the hit Bravo series, bosun Malia White reported Ferrier, the ship's chief stewardess, to Captain Sandy Yawn for having Valium and a weed pen in their cabin. Ferrier was then confronted by Yawn, 55, about what was found — before the episode concluded on a cliffhanger.

On Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen after the episode, White claimed that she saw Ferrier take Valium in an attempt to get her anxiety under control after she had a panic attack over Chef Kiko’s departure.

"I think in that moment when she asked for Valium is when it really hit me that those were the pills that she was taking every night all season,” said White, 30. “That’s when it became a real serious thing for me.”

White also denied to host Andy Cohen that she reported Ferrier as revenge for her rooming situation: "I already had my bunk at that point, so, yeah, it was because it was my duty to. I don’t want to lose my licensing."

Ferrier, who was live-tweeting the episode, defended herself by sharing a photo of the drugs in question.

"I like Malia’s arranging skills,” she wrote on Twitter. “So that’s prescribed Valium, CBD (which is legal in Spain), a lighter (not sure what this has to do with anything) and my passport holder… And for anyone who’s interested the prescription is on the other side of the box as shown…”

In another tweet responding to a fan, Ferrier reiterated that the medications were legal.

"No...she went into my cabin AFTER we had the fight about cabin arrangements...Then went through my handbag and took a photo of my prescribed medication and legal CBD and sent it to Sandy," she wrote.

However, on WWHL , White claimed that having drugs — prescription or otherwise — violates charter policy, telling Cohen, "It’s not legal to take Valium on a yacht unsupervised, whether you have a prescription or not."

"Hannah knows that what she was doing was wrong," she said. "She knows that it’s against the rules."

Ferrier — who is currently seven months pregnant with her first child — said in early June that that the fifth season of Below Deck Mediterranean will be her last .

"I think I'm probably done," she told Entertainment Tonight . "I learned when I first started yachting in my very early 20s, you know, I would see these women who were in their late 30s, 40s, sitting at a bar, getting wasted with 20-year-olds living in a tiny cabin, and I was like, 'I don't want [that].' "

"I want this to be a good, fun, enriching experience that allows me to travel a lot, but I don't want to get to the stage where I'm locked into yachting and there's nothing else in my life except that," Ferrier continued. "It's a bit different if you're captain, but as a chief stew? They just don't seem like very happy people to me."

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

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

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NY doctor and wife who appeared on Bravo’s ‘Below Deck’ charged with fake opioid prescription scheme

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NEW YORK (AP) — A doctor and his wife who appeared on the Bravo reality series “Below Deck” were arraigned in New York on Thursday on charges that they filled out bogus opioid prescriptions using the names of cast members from the show.

Urologist Francis Martinis and his wife, Jessica Martinis, of Fort Salonga, New York, were each charged with criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance by a practitioner and falsifying business records.

They appeared in state court in Riverhead on Long Island after first being arrested in May. Both pleaded not guilty, according to their attorney. The couple were released without bail and are due back in court Jan. 25.

“Below Deck,” which premiered on Bravo in 2013, follows crew members and the passengers they cater to aboard a luxury yacht.

The Martinises appeared on the spinoff “Below Deck Mediterranean” in 2019. Francis Martinis also appeared on “Below Deck Sailing Yacht” the following year.

The couple’s attorney, Peter Crusco, called the charges bogus.

“My clients have pled not guilty and are presumed innocent, and look forward to their day in court to clear their names,” Crusco said in a text message.

FILE - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, center, signs bills expanding reproductive healthcare that will allow people in New York to receive contraceptives without a doctor's prescription, May 2, 2023, in Albany, N.Y. New Yorkers will be able to get contraceptives without a prescription under a standing order signed by state health officials on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. The move is part of Hochul's mission to bolster reproductive rights at a time when its restricted in other parts of the country. (AP Photo/Maysoon Khan, File)

Prosecutors said Francis Martinis, 55, transmitted prescriptions for oxycodone to Long Island pharmacies with the names of “Below Deck” cast members listed as the purported patients. Jessica Martinis, 38, then picked up the drugs and paid in cash, prosecutors said.

Jessica Martinis first raised red flags in January 2023 when she tried to fill a handwritten prescription for oxycodone in someone else’s name, prosecutors said.

An investigation turned up evidence of numerous fake oxycodone prescriptions that Francis Martinis had written with the names of cast members from the reality show, authorities said.

None of the oxycodone was actually intended for the people named in the prescriptions, prosecutors said.

“Physicians are held to a high standard, as they take an oath to uphold a number of professional ethical standards when they begin their careers,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement. “The conduct Dr. Martinis allegedly engaged in with his wife not only violated this oath, but it also violated the law.”

Frank Tarentino, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency’s special agent in charge for New York, said, “These arrests are a reminder that a doctor’s illicit drug diversion can lead to irreparable harm like the drug overdoses and poisonings currently plaguing our nation.”

A representative for NBCUniversal, Bravo’s parent company, declined to comment.

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‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’: Did This Dude Bring Drugs on The Boat?

Captain Glenn and a guest on Below Deck Sailing Yacht

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The sails might not be the only thing getting high next week on Below Deck Sailing Yacht . In the preview for the next episode of the Bravo series, we see Captain Glenn get even madder than he was when some oil spilled on the boat, after learning there could be an illegal substance on board.

During the last charter of the season, one of the guests is seen asking her friend, “Are you okay?” and explaining, “His eyes are rolling back in his head.”

We then hear Captain Glenn say, “I would be very surprised if somebody flew to Corfu with cocaine,” and stating, “If there are illegal substances on board, I have to do something.” He goes on to say, “He’s in deep shit if there’s drugs on board in his cabin,” and we hear a loud sniff from behind a guest room door. Uh oh, looks like this bro’s paddleboarding fun is about to come crashing down.

We’ll have to wait until next week to find out exactly what happens, but fans of the franchise will remember this isn’t the first — or the last — time that drugs on the boat were an issue. In Season 1 of Below Deck , stewardess Kat Held found a bag of white power and a rolled-up dollar bill in a guest’s cabin, causing Captain Lee to turn that boat right around and kick their butts off of it mid-charter. And in the latest trailer for Below Deck Mediterranean Season 5, premiering on Bravo Monday, June 1, Captain Sandy is seen having a stern conversation where she says “It’s been brought to my attention that you have drugs on board.” Yikes! Come on people, you’re on a beautiful yacht — you should just be high on life!

Below Deck Sailing Yacht airs Monday at 9pm ET/PT on Bravo.

Where to stream Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Captain Glenn Shephard

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Below Deck charter guests accused of stealing cast members' identities as part of opioid scheme

Urologist Francis Martinis and wife Jessica are in troubled legal waters.

Jessica is a staff writer at Entertainment Weekly, where she covers TV, movies, and pop culture. Her work has appeared in Bustle, NYLON, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, and more. She lives in California with her dog.

A couple who appeared as charter guests on episodes of the hit Bravo reality franchise Below Deck are setting sail for court after being indicted on allegations of falsely using the names of cast members in a scheme to obtain prescription drugs.

Dr. Francis Martinis, a urologist in Fort Salonga, N.Y., and his wife, Jessica Martinis, were charged with criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance and falsifying business records in Suffolk County on Thursday, the district attorney's office announced .

Prosecutors allege that Francis, 55, electronically transmitted numerous prescriptions for oxycodone to pharmacies under the names of former Below Deck cast members, and that Jessica, 38, would pick up the prescriptions and pay with cash. But the prescriptions were never intended for the purported patients — none of whom resided on Long Island — identified on the orders, prosecutors say.

Fred Jagueneau/Bravo

The DA's office said the scheme came to light in January after Jessica tried to fill a hand-written prescription for oxycodone issued by her husband, when prescriptions are often issued electronically. When the pharmacist noticed she was not the patient listed, they contacted the Suffolk County Police Department.

The Martinises pleaded not guilty and are currently on supervised release. They're scheduled to be back in court Jan. 25.

"Doctors are supposed to be trusted members of the community," Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement. "Physicians are held to a high standard, as they take an oath to uphold a number of professional ethical standards when they begin their careers. The conduct Dr. Martinis allegedly engaged in with his wife not only violated this oath, but it also violated the law."

Peter Crusco, an attorney for the couple, called the charges "bogus" when reached for comment by EW, adding that his clients "look forward to their day in court to clear their names."

Bravo declined to comment.

The Below Deck shows follow the interior and deck crews of luxury ships and the affluent passengers they cater to during a charter season. The Martinises appeared on the spinoff Below Deck Mediterranean , and Francis also returned on Below Deck Sailing Yacht .

Captain Glenn Shephard Addresses That "Drug Bust" Teased on Below Deck Sailing Yacht

"Any suspicion of drugs on board is a very serious thing that obviously has to be investigated," Captain Glenn Shephard said.

This season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht is about to get even crazier, if you can believe it. In a sneak peek of what's to come later on this season released in March, Captain Glenn Shephard can be seen telling chief stew Jenna MacGillivray , "I would be very surprised if someone flew to Corfu with cocaine."

How to Watch

Watch Below Deck Sailing Yacht on Peacock and the Bravo app .

The next thing we see is the captain looking through someone's bag. "Is there anything you don't want me to find?" Captain Glenn says in the clip. "What's in here?"

Of course, we all want to know what's about to go down on Below Deck Sailing Yacht . Apparently, the moment is so good, Captain Glenn doesn't want to spoil it.

When asked for a tease of what appears to be a "drug bust" coming up later this season during his April 13 appearance on the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen: @ Home After Show , Captain Glenn replied, "All I can say is tune in and see what happens."

However, Captain Glenn did explain why it's so important to act immediately if the crew has any reason to believe there are illegal substances on board. "Any suspicion of drugs on board is a very serious thing that obviously has to be investigated," he said (clip above). "I could lose my license. The boat could be confiscated. I could go to jail. It's a very serious thing, so yeah, you have to take it seriously."

Captain Lee Rosbach Wishes Cameras Didn't Capture This Below Deck Moment

Captain Lee Rosbach found himself in a similar situation when the crew discovered a substance they suspected to be cocaine in the charter guests' possession after they boarded the Honor in the very first episode of Below Deck ever back in Season 1. The Below Deck boss had no choice but to end the charter early and have the guests disembark the yacht .

"It was a tough situation to be in. On the one hand, we want clients to be happy. On the other hand, I don't want my boat to get boarded by the Coast Guard, and I don't want to go to jail for 25 years," Captain Lee wrote of the experience in his book Running Against the Tide: True Tales from the Stud of the Sea . "I made the decision to kick them off the boat."

What we didn't see during the episode was that Captain Lee also assigned a crew member to make sure the charter guests didn't hide anything on board as they packed all of their stuff up.

"After they'd left, I then told the crew to take the boat apart. I didn't want any hidden stashes left on my boat. If I found any powder I couldn't account for, it was going over the side," Captain Lee recalled. "It was a hell of a lot of work, we didn't find anything, and we lost some clients, but it was more than worth it to get that kind of garbage off my boat."

We'll have to wait and see what drama is coming up for Captain Glenn and the rest of the Parsifal III crew as this season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht continues Mondays at 9/8c. Watch a sneak peek, below.

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'Below Deck' Finale: Glenn's drug search goes awry, fans say Billy hid his stash and should have been tested

Bravo's 'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' returned this week with its finale episode and it was explosive to say the least. It began with a drug investigation and ended with heartbreaks and goodbyes.

Previously, Captain Glenn Shephard was informed by his crew members — Jenna MacGillivray and Chris Miller — that they had spotted white powder under Billy's (one of the charter guests) nose. Based on their observations, Glenn had a chat with the guests and expressed an interest in searching their belongings, to which Billy readily agreed while he said: "I have got nothing to hide bro." Glenn rummaged through his luggage as Madison Stalker watched. It was already a stressful situation, which got out of hand when Glenn didn't find drugs on Billy. It put off Billy and his friends on vacation. Minutes later, Billy walked up to Glenn and confronted him for conducting the search. He made it a point to let Glenn know that he was offended.

Sure, it's humiliating to be accused of something one hasn't done but Glenn's hands are pretty tied here because that's the protocol — any suspicion would lead to a search. And being caught in possession of drugs on the boat have serious legal implications. The yacht could be confiscated and Glenn could lose his license. So, there was a lot at stake and it would only be foolish of Glenn if he ignored Jenna and Chris' accounts.

Meanwhile, fans think Glenn didn't find drugs on Billy because he had already snorted all of it or hid it somewhere it couldn't be found. "I think he already snorted them so Glenn would only find out if he did a drug test," a fan commented. Another shared: "We know damn well that they hid those drugs elsewhere. They wouldn’t stash them in luggage since interior goes in. They were put somewhere in that room though. That guest was snorting something at dinner the night prior. He lyin!! #BelowDeckSailing."

One more said, "For someone who’s claiming not to have drugs on board, Billy is acting a lot like someone who may have drugs on board #BelowDeckSailing #BelowDeckSailingYacht," a viewer expressed. "The captain may not have found any drugs, but that doesn’t mean the dude wasn’t using. His behavior speaks for itself.#BelowDeckSailing." Another user tweeted, "Billy claiming he's so offended and has no drugs on board... BECAUSE HE SNORTED THEM ALL #belowdecksailing."

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‘Below Deck’ couple accused of stealing cast identities in drug scheme

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A doctor who was featured on the popular Bravo reality TV show Below Deck has been accused of stealing the identities of his fellow cast members to buy prescription drugs.

Dr Francis Martinis, a urologist from Fort Salonga, New York, and his wife, Jessica Martinis, have been accused of using the personal details of others who appeared on Below Deck to create fake prescriptions for oxycodone.

The District Attorney’s Office for Suffolk County said in a release that their alleged drug scheme started to unravel after Ms Martinis went to a pharmacy in Kings Park to pick up oxycodone with a bogus handwritten prescription.

The pharmacist had doubts that the prescription was real and called the police.

Further investigations allegedly revealed that the doctor had sent dozens of prescriptions for oxycodone to different pharmacies around Suffolk County in New York over two years.

Mr Martinis was allegedly using the name of two Below Deck cast members on prescriptions that the doctor would electronically transmit to pharmacies, which would then be picked up by his wife using cash, the release states.

“Doctors are supposed to be trusted members of the community and with that trust comes a tremendous amount of personal and professional responsibility,” said District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in the release.

“Physicians are held to a high standard, as they take an oath to uphold a number of professional ethical standards when they begin their careers. The conduct Dr. Martinis allegedly engaged in with his wife not only violated this oath, but it also violated the law.”

The couple were both arrested back in May and were charged with eight counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance and falsifying business records, law enforcement told NBC.

It is unclear what the couple was doing with the prescription drugs once they obtained them.

The couple appeared in Suffolk Criminal Court on Long Island on Thursday morning.

Peter A Crusco, the attorney representing the Martinis, told The Independent his clients pleaded not guilty.

“My clients have pled not guilty and are presumed innocent, and look forward to their day in Court to clear their names,” Mr Crusco said.

“The evidence will show the charges are bogus and cannot be substantiated in the crucible of the Courtroom.”

The couple gained a name for themselves when they appeared on Below Deck back in 2019 when they had their yacht trip filmed for Below Deck Mediterranian , then Mr Martinis appeared on the show again on Below Deck Sailing Yacht.

The show details the lives of the staff members aboard luxury yachts and how they deal with their high-status and very rich customers out at sea.

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Below Deck: Behind the Scenes of That Shocking Hannah Twist

By Julie Miller

Image may contain Human Person Clothing Sleeve Apparel Hair Sophie Perry and Long Sleeve

Below Deck Mediterranean showrunner Nadine Rajabi had no idea that one of her series’ stars, Hannah Ferrier , had drugs onboard the mega-yacht Wellington while filming the series last fall.

Rajabi learned of the substances when a camera aboard the Wellington caught Captain Sandy Yawn receiving a text message tip-off from Ferrier’s bunkmate, Malia White. “I’m sorry but I have to report this,” White wrote alongside a photo of Ferrier’s monogrammed toiletry bag, a packet of Valium, and what appears to be marijuana. (Ferrier, who declined to comment to Vanity Fair, said on Twitter that the Valium was prescription and the other substance was CBD.)

“I have to be honest. My heart sank,” said Rajabi, who has worked with Ferrier—one of the spin-off’s only two major recurring stars—for five seasons. “It was very shocking.”

Had this been another kind of reality series, a badly behaving cast member might have been promoted, let alone spared, for the sake of drama and ratings. But the Below Deck universe operates differently than most reality shows, keeping production and cast members mostly separate—aside from confessional-style interviews filmed off-site between charters—in part because of the unique liabilities involved with the luxury yacht at the center of production. “Cast members” must work round the clock to operate a mega-yacht in myriad weather conditions while serving (and keeping safe) charter guests, regardless of the demands of the show. As such, producers do not interact with cast members during charter and cannot influence the captain’s decision on how to operate the boat.

“It’s the beauty and the downfall of the show,” said Rajabi. “We’re at the mercy of a boat, maritime law, and nature—which is so different from anything else you ever see on Bravo. We’re seeing it as you’re seeing it all unfold.”

Shortly after Yawn received the text message, she sat down with Ferrier—her longtime coworker and head of interior—and told her that she would have to leave the boat. The issue was not whether her Valium was prescribed. (Ferrier has suffered anxiety attacks during previous seasons.) Maritime law stipulates that crew members must check medications in with the captain.

Not long before new guests arrived for a charter, the mega-yacht Wellington was suddenly down its head of interior. And Below Deck Mediterranean was suddenly without its reliably deadpan costar.

“We have never had anything like this. It was completely unexpected,” Rajabi told Vanity Fair.

Well, the twist was unexpected for Rajabi. White, who was bunking with Ferrier, had her suspicions. “I saw Hannah, on multiple occasions, taking pills,” White told Vanity Fair. “I didn’t know what they were. And then I started to notice Valium wrappers in our trash can. That got me worried—and then, after the panic attack, when I finally saw the package on the counter, I realized it was Valium. That was a little concerning for me.” (Cameras are not allowed in crew bathrooms unless two crew members are present.)

Asked whether she considered confronting Ferrier directly, White said, “It’s not my place to bring up what she’s taking. I don’t have any right knowing her medical history. That’s between her and the captain.”

When White stumbled upon Ferrier’s Valium, however, she knew she had to raise the subject with Yawn. “I think you can hear me say [off-camera], ‘Goddammit,’ because I was just like, Ugh. I didn’t want all this to happen,” explained White. “So my protocol with that is give it to the captain, and ultimately the captain makes that decision.”

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Several hours went by between White taking the photo and sending it to Yawn. In that time, White—who said she has never had to report a fellow crew member for substances before—said she was contemplating how to proceed. “This is my first time having to do this and there’s a lot going on onboard. You’ve got the filming crew, you’ve got crew, you’ve got all these moving parts. And obviously I’m worried about the ramifications of it being on TV. But ultimately I knew I had to do something because most importantly on a boat, crew and safety come first. I knew what I had to do. I just was really hesitant to do it because obviously it sucks.”

White said she “definitely” has regrets about her handling of the subject. “I think my language about it all is a little insensitive,” White said, referencing a conversation she had with Yawn about Ferrier’s anxiety. “When I went to Captain Sandy to report that something was up with Hannah, obviously I didn’t know what to call it. I don’t know what medical conditions Hannah suffers from. Again, that’s not my place. But I think I could’ve handled it a little more delicately for sure. This was a huge learning curve for me.”

Since last Monday’s episode aired, White faced a social media backlash from viewers who sided with Ferrier, the longer-running Below Deck castmate. But it isn’t a black-and-white issue for viewers, especially given Ferrier’s clear disenchantment with yachting and dropped morale.

Admitted Rajabi, “I think that Hannah was between a rock and a hard place of not knowing what she wanted to do after yachting and also knowing that she’d kind of outgrown yachting. I think that she’d be the first to tell you that her heart wasn’t in it.… But I felt really bad. Everybody was in a really, really difficult spot, and that’s a hard thing to watch.”

“The truth is, maritime law was broken, and Sandy had to make a decision. And the decision was, she has a reputation at sea,” said Rajabi. Even if Yawn had wanted to let the misdeed go, added Rajabi, Yawn couldn’t have. The showrunner explained that the Wellington has an additional security camera on its bridge, administered not by Bravo but by the mega-yacht’s management company, to act like the black box of an airplane. “It was all being recorded. It’s almost like a police body cam.… Sandy could have been in really big trouble had she not reported it.”

Rajabi said it was only after the White text tip-off, and Ferrier’s firing, that she instructed production to go back and comb through hundreds of hours’ worth of footage they had amassed from the cameras planted onboard. “A lot of times we don’t know what’s happening [because there are so many cameras rolling at all times], but the beauty of the show is the whole boat is rigged.… I said, ‘Can you guys go back and see if Hannah was taking any sort of pills? Is there a Valium box? Is there a pill? Is there anything?’ So we basically have to back out of it to see, does the evidence exist?”

The shocking plot twist reminded her of another that took producers by surprise, also involving White—in season two, when White and chef Adam Glick revealed partway through the season (and a Below Deck love triangle ) that they had actually known each other before filming. Rajabi had just happened to be listening to Glick’s audio channel one night when he and his coworkers were partying in Croatia, and she heard Glick seemingly reference their prior relationship. After that, she said production went back through hundreds’ of hours of footage to find clues of their familiarity.

“We’ve had a lot of shocking things,” said Rajabi, rattling off a few juicy storylines including Ferrier committing another cardinal maritime sin of hooking up with a charter guest and White’s love triangle. Of the latter, Rajabi said, “That was one of those things where it was like, ‘Just tell us the truth before we start shooting. Because no matter what, the truth always comes out, and the cameras always catch it.’”

White said that the social media backlash around her decision to report Ferrier has opened her up to a new kind of criticism on social media.

“The hardest part, for me anyways, is trying to explain maritime law and duties when a lot of the times people just see us as characters,” said White. “They forget that there’s a much bigger picture than just the friendships onboard.” Speaking about the Valium fiasco, she said, “It has never been my intention to be out to get someone. I’m honestly just trying to do my job properly and look out for everyone on board.”

Even with the backlash, though, White said that she would “love” to return for another Below Deck Mediterranean season.

“My first season there was a love triangle,” laughed White. “This season, the Hannah thing. I would love a season where it’s chilled. Where Malia’s not caught up in anything.”

All products featured on Vanity Fair are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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Screen Rant

Below deck: paget & ciara explain the rules for drugs on a yacht.

Below Deck Sailing couple Paget and Ciara have explained the rules of drugs aboard a charter boat that are affecting chief stew, Hannah Ferrier.

Paget and Ciara of Below Deck Sailing have explained the rules regarding drugs on a yacht. The maritime laws are crystal clear and Hannah Ferrier of Below Deck Mediterranean was wrong.

The trailer for season five of Below Deck Med promised us a tumultuous season, including a clip that showed Captain Sandy confronting someone on board who had drugs. The rule-breaker turned out to be chief stew, Hannah. Many Bravo fans believed it would be a charter guest. Malia White, the bosun, reported that Hannah had been using Valium and had a weed pen in her bathroom throughout the season. Hannah made sure to live-tweet the episode to tell fans her side of the story. But in the end, it looks like she will be losing her job since Captain Sandy can no longer trust her chief stew.

Related: Below Deck: Who Is The Best Captain From All Of The Franchises?

Bravo’s designated yacht couple, Paget and Ciara spoke with Bravo Confessionals about the ins and outs of having drugs on board a charter boat. While Hannah maintains her innocence , the bosun stated that even if the Valium was a prescription, according to their boat's charter it was against the code. So, who is right? Check out the interview below:

Both Ciara and Paget were not surprised that Captain Sandy decided to let the Australian go. All seamen know how important it is to follow the rules so you don’t lose your license. During the interview, the couple was asked to explain in depth what the rules of the sea actually were. According to Paget’s response, " prescription drugs are allowed on yachts as the rules state." Apparently, if you are on a prescribed drug, you must notify the safety officer onboard your vessel. It could be a first mate, but because of the reality show, the first point of contact should have been Captain Sandy. Paget went on to say you should tell the crew, in particular, to make it clear the medicine is not illegal.

While most Bravo fans agree that was not a good look for Malia to tattle, it seems the bosun really had no other choice in the matter. Monday’s new episode will show Hannah being let go from the ship by the Captain, and the crew trying to figure out a perfect replacement. Hannah announced before the season started that she would be leaving the show after this season. Fans just had no idea how crazy her departure would be.

Next: Below De ck Med: What We Know About Hannah Ferrier's Boyfriend Josh

Below Deck Med airs Monday at 9 pm EST on Bravo.

Source: Bravo Confessionals

Crime and Courts

‘it was all for us' couple who appeared on ‘below deck' plead not guilty to prescription drug scheme, both defendants pleaded not guilty at their arraignment in connection with a prescription drug scheme on thursday, by jonathan dienst , pei-sze cheng and courtney copenhagen • published december 14, 2023 • updated on december 15, 2023 at 9:50 am, what to know.

A doctor who appeared on a hit Bravo reality show was arrested on Long Island -- accused of stealing the identities of cast members of the show in a scheme to obtain prescription drugs, according to law enforcement officials.
Dr. Francis Martinis -- a urologist in Fort Salonga -- and his wife, Jessica, who both appeared in the hit Bravo reality show franchise "Below Deck," are accused of allegedly using the personal information of other cast members to write bogus prescriptions for oxycodone.

Investigators said the scheme started to unfold earlier this year, when Jessica went to a pharmacy in Kings Park in an attempt to fill a bogus oxycodone prescription in January. According to those officials, the handwritten prescription raised concerns, prompting a pharmacist to call police.

A doctor who appeared on a hit Bravo reality show and his wife pleaded not guilty on Long Island Thursday to stealing the identities of show cast members in an alleged scheme to obtain prescription drugs , according to officials.

Dr. Francis Martinis -- a urologist in Fort Salonga -- and his wife, Jessica, who both appeared in the hit Bravo reality show franchise "Below Deck," are accused of allegedly using the personal information of other cast members to write bogus prescriptions for oxycodone. They are both charged in an eight-count indictment with multiple felony counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance by a practitioner and falsifying business records.

The Martinis were released on their own recognizance after Thursday's hearing, with their lawyer avowing their innocence.

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"Evidence will show the charges are bogus and cannot be substantiated," Peter Crusco, the couple's attorney said.

A subsequent investigation revealed that the doctor had sent dozens of prescriptions for oxycodone to Suffolk County pharmacies over a two-year period, law enforcement officials said. Many of these prescriptions were allegedly fake -- written under the names of two "Below Deck" cast members.

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Investigators said that Jessica would pick up the prescriptions and pay in cash as part of the alleged plot.

"Doctors are supposed to be trusted members of the community and with that trust comes a tremendous amount of personal and professional responsibility,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. "Physicians are held to a high standard, as they take an oath to uphold a number of professional ethical standards when they begin their careers. The conduct Dr. Martinis allegedly engaged in with his wife not only violated this oath, but it also violated the law."

The duo was arrested in May and charged with eight counts of criminal sale of controlled substance and falsifying business records, law enforcement officials tell NBC New York.

Investigators did not reveal if they believed the couple were using, reselling the drugs or both.

In court Thursday, prosecutors say Jessica told arresting officers, "It was all for us!" and both she and Francis allegedly reported having substance abuse problems. He has no criminal history and has practiced urology the last 25 years.

Former New York Homeland Security Director Michael Balboni explained the allegations are serious, especially amid an ongoing national addiction and overdose crisis.

Balboni said, "He abused the celebrity position that he had on that ship to take the identities of his crew members -- if that is proven -- and then use that to buy drugs, that is a common scheme for a common criminal."

The pair were among the guests who chartered Sirocco, a luxury yacht that set sail on the French Riviera in 2019 and had part of their trip documented for "Below Deck Mediterranean." The doctor was also a guest once again the following year, this time on another Below Deck spin-off, "Below Deck Sailing Yacht." The series featured life on a 180-foot sailboat that cruised the Ionian Sea.

Following their appearances in the franchise, the doctor and wife duo attended promotional events with other crew members.

"The DEA is rooted in an 'all hands on deck' approach to save lives from illegal drug misuse and abuse through enforcement, education, and prevention," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. "We identified two individuals who brazenly diverted controlled substances intended for medicinal purposes to the illegal drug market. These arrests are a reminder that a doctor’s illicit drug diversion can lead to irreparable harm like the drug overdoses and poisonings currently plaguing our nation."

Bravo did not respond to NBC New York's request for comment.

Balboni said, "Prosecutors will want to send a message to all other physicians -- you have special access to these drugs, you know how they work and if you do this you will be prosecuted."

Bravo is owned by NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC New York and Telemundo 47.

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Below Deck Loses 2 Crewmembers After a Firing and a Dramatic Season 11 Departure

Below deck 's capt. kerry titheradge fired the first season 11 yachtie during the bravo series' march 18 episode, but that wasn't the only shocking departure. find out who else left the yacht..

The St. David is down not one, but two crewmembers.

During Below Deck 's March 18 episode, Captain Kerry Titheradge fired the first season 11 yachtie when he let Bosun Jared Woodin go for unprofessional behavior, the last straw being an inebriated Jared barging into Stew Barbie Pascual 's cabin the night prior and yelling at Deckhand Kyle Stillie for leaving a mess of loose tobacco on the deck after a night of partying.

"This is the second time you've gone on the piss and you've had bad behavior," Kerry told his subordinate. "You're in a leadership role. You can't be acting like that. You gotta be above the fray. The way that you're treating these guy is not acceptable."

But it wasn't just the alcohol that was the problem, as Kerry noted Jared's mental state wasn't where it needed to be. "You've got s--t going on, man," he shared. "You're your own worst enemy right now. You need to depart the vessel."

However, Jared agreed his head wasn't in the right place and accepted his termination graciously.

"This ain't the right place for me at the right time," Jared replied, to which Kerry responded, "I don't blame you for that. Take this time and work on yourself. Me keeping you here is a disservice to you."

Before departing the super-yacht, Jared reflected in a confessional, "I thought I was in a good headspace coming into this. I'm really not. And as much as I'd like to be I'm just lying to myself."

But Jared wasn't the only teammate to set sail during the latest episode. Stew Cat Baugh willingly left the ship after admittedly struggling with the job all season long.

"I really wanna push through for you guys," Cat, in tears, told Chief Stew Fraser Olender after receiving a very distressing call from a friend back home in America. "I'm just losing my mind right now."

And Fraser totally understood his crewmember's needs.

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Who is Carrying Drugs on Below Deck?

As far as reality shows go, Bravo network’s ‘ Below Deck ’ is undoubtedly a stand-out due to its rather unique premise. The show chronicles the lives of the many crew members who live and work onboard a mega-yacht during the charter season and brings to viewers the many trials and tribulations these crew members go through as they try and keep up with the changing demands of their employers. ‘Below Deck’ made its debut in 2013, and throughout the seven seasons that have aired so far, has seen plenty of explosive controversies.

Among such controversies has been the issue of drugs. Indeed, in the past, there have been instances of illegal drug use by both customers and crew members. In fact, ‘Below Deck’ creator and producer Mark Cronin admitted back in 2018 that he had had to handle a crew member who had a serious cocaine addiction! While the use of drugs on luxury pleasure vessels and by crew members is neither uncommon nor shocking, it does create some moments of genuine drama on the show.

The same is true for the two spin-off shows – ‘Below Deck: Mediterranean’ and ‘Below Deck: Sailing Yacht’ – that have spawned on the back of the original show’s success. As it stands, ‘Below Deck: Mediterranean’ is on its fifth season, and this time, there’s a lot of juicy drug-related drama unfolding below decks. Season 5 of ‘Below Deck: Mediterranean’ set sail in Mallorca, Spain, and it appears that a major drug bust by Captain Sandy Yawn is on the cards. Are you wondering who might be carrying drugs? So are we, and here’s everything we know about the potential drug bust so far.

Who Has Drugs on Below Deck: Mediterranean?

The excitement around the potential drug bust started when Captain Sandy was caught on camera, speaking sternly to an unseen person and saying it was brought to her attention that the individual was carrying drugs on the vessel. The informer, it is known, is Malia White , but the offender, as of now, remains unknown. But, if the events of Season 5 are anything to go by, we might have a suspect on our hands.

In the last episode of ‘Below Deck: Mediterranean’, one of the crew members, Hannah Ferrier , suffered what appeared to be a panic attack, following the departure of her dear friend Chef Kiko from the boat. At the time of her panic attack, Hannah locked herself inside a washroom, and a concerned Malia was seen asking her if she needed anything to which Hannah replied that she needs Valium. Taken aback by Hannah’s request and well-aware of the stringent laws about drug use by crew members, Malia was then seen asking, isn’t it a prescription drug.

Interestingly, Malia’s question remained unanswered, and Hannah replied by saying that her panic attack would “pass in a second.” Immediately afterward, a sound of something like the plastic cap of a bottle is heard dropping on to the bathroom floor.

While this instance in itself is inconclusive, it could indicate that Hannah might have used prescription drugs without logging it and informing Captain Sandy as per maritime laws. Further, following the episode, Malia put up a lengthy Instagram post explaining the stringent regulations governing drug use among crew members, which could be yet another hint. See it here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDdfcZvg7_Q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Since we know that Malia and Hannah are roommates, and we know that Captain Sandy received evidence of drugs from Malia via photos taken on a phone, the seemingly innocuous incident between Malia and Hannah could have a lot of explosive consequences.

Daisy Kelliher dishes Below Deck Sailing Yacht success, reveals if she still stalks to Gary King after scandal

Below Deck Sailing Yacht star Daisy Kelliher has dished about her success on the hit show ahead of Season 5.

Daisy has appeared on three seasons of Below Deck Sailing Yacht and helped turn the show around after a lackluster first season.

Despite a serious rift in the dream team trio of Colin, Daisy, and Gary following Season 4, fans still can’t get enough of them.

Ahead of her fourth stint on Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Daisy has opened up about life following her success and how she ended up on the show.

Daisy lost her job during the COVID-19 pandemic and at the urging of friends, she applied to be on Below Deck Sailing Yacht.

Speaking with The Irish Independent, Daisy admitted that a couple of weeks after applying, she was filming Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 2 in Croatia.

Daisy Kelliher dishes Below Deck Sailing Yacht success

Although it may seem like Daisy’s life has changed drastically since she became a staple on the sailing franchise, she insists that’s not the case.

“My life hasn’t changed dramatically, but there have been small, subtle changes – it’s been fun,” she expressed to the outlet.

As Monsters and Critics previously reported, one big change for Daisy is her new friendship with Hollywood A-list star Christina Applegate.

Daisy also looked back on her life since her Below Deck Sailing Yacht debut, admitting she didn’t think she would get the gig, but is beyond happy she did.

“The last three years have been kind of a whirlwind, I really can’t complain. I’m getting to do all my yachting work and slowly getting to do other things as well,” Daisy stated.

With her fourth season hitting Bravo airwaves this year, one can’t help but wonder how much longer Daisy will still be on Below Deck Sailing Yacht.

“I’m just being a ‘yes person’ at the moment. The last few years have changed very quickly, so my attitude right now is just saying yes and seeing where things take me,” Daisy spilled. “I’ve done everything from podcasts to the show, to still doing both, so every day is very different. I don’t know what the future holds right now.”

Along with opening up about her success on Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Daisy also shared if she still speaks to Gary following sexual misconduct allegations against him.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daisy (@daisykelliher87)

Daisy Kelliher reveals if she still talks to Gary King

Last summer, Gary was accused of sexual misconduct by a production team member. However, even before that, Daisy and Gary were at odds over things that went down during Season 4, especially her hooking up with Colin.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht fans have wondered where Daisy and Gary stand today following the scandal and their fallout. After all, Gary was removed from BravoCon after the allegations against him came to light, so no resolution to his and Daisy’s friendship was revealed there.

During an Instagram Stories Q&A session, Daisy asked who she talks to from the show. Dani Soares and Gary were two names Daisy brought up immediately.

Although she did mention she keeps in touch with others like Alli Dore, Daisy also declared that they all simply live different lives. Daisy confirmed that no other cast members from Below Deck Sailing Yacht live in London, where she resides.

Daisy frequently hangs with Below Deck stars Fraser Olender and Hayley De Sola Pinto. She also spends time with Below Deck Med alum Courtney Veale since they live in London.

The wait to see Daisy Kelliher back on Below Deck Sailing Yacht won’t be much longer. Captain Glenn hinted at when the Parsifal III crew will be back, and you can read what he had to say here.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht is currently on hiatus on Bravo. Seasons 1-4 are streaming on Peacock.

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‘Below Deck’ Sails Into a New Era

With a different captain at the helm and new production elements, the reality show about charter yachts is switching up its style.

A man in a crew member suit stands behind a bar and tends to flowers in a vase.

By Shivani Gonzalez

Starting a new season of “ Below Deck ” can be similar to returning to summer camp as a kid — you know it’s going to be fun and that you’ll be in the same environment, but some of the people will be different and you’re not quite sure what the vibes will be.

This time around, in particular, feels that way because for the first time in the show’s 11-season run, Captain Lee Rosbach is no longer at the helm. It’s a pivotal moment for a franchise that has become one of the most popular entities in the sprawling universe of reality TV since premiering on Bravo in 2013 . The show’s appeal was built on endless romances between various crew members (“boatmances,” as they came to be known), horrible charter guests and some sort of passive-aggressive fight about how many shackles of the anchor chain should be in the water. And there was always Rosbach presiding over the drama as he trudged around the boat, reeling off one liners like “I’m madder than a pissed-on chicken” and “we screwed the pooch so many times we should have a litter of puppies running around.”

At the center of the show now is Kerry Titheradge (the stern yet goofy captain of “Below Deck Adventure” fame), who is managing the Motor Yacht Saint David with the cheeky chief stew Fraser Olender by his side.

With that change in captain, the energy on the boat — both onscreen and off — is different, according to Olender.

“I feel like Kerry this season, as opposed to Lee, has a no B.S. attitude, which I love with him,” Olender said in an interview. “With Kerry, he taught me a lot and sort of forced to me confront issues directly with my team, work them out, as opposed to making executive decisions too soon.”

This shift in management style changes the central conflict — whereas the drama once focused on the captain swiftly kicking out any unpleasant crew member (as we might have seen with Rosbach), the drama now focuses on the whole crew trying to get along (since Titheradge gives people those second chances).

Additionally, Olender noted that the captain’s relationship with the crew can also affect the drama on board.

“Captains absolutely do get involved, whether they know it or not,” Olender said, adding that for the crew, everything is about “trying to impress your captain.”

This phenomenon plays out early in the new season when the lead deckhand, Ben Willoughby, called out a fellow crew member over the radios about not wearing a life vest — something he easily could have done in private. The drama that followed became an interpersonal conflict between the two of them, both with the ultimate goal of impressing Titheradge. (Of course, the two deckhands had kissed on the previous crew night out, which is more in line with the “Below Deck” drama viewers are used to.)

For “Below Deck” showrunners, the changeovers in the cast allowed them to rethink what the show would look like.

From the season premiere, it was immediately apparent that Rosbach’s absence wasn’t the only change this season: The filming is sleeker, the daily, multicourse meals prepared by the chef are given their own glamour shots and the cameras sometimes cut to the perspectives of yachties running around on deck and through the galley.

“Our showrunner, Lauren Simms, is an avid consumer of all different kinds of media,” Noah Samton, a senior vice president of unscripted current production for NBCUniversal, said in an interview. “She pitches us different ideas on how to stylistically evoke different feelings and change the mood a little bit of ‘Below Deck’ without removing what really works.”

Moving through the rest of the season, and potentially through seasons to come, Olender is aiming to bring a cutthroat management style while also bringing affection for his stews, all with his signature British humor.

On Bravo’s side, there are changes in the works for the other “Below Deck” spinoffs — including “Sailing Yacht,” “Mediterranean” and “Down Under” — which collectively, have 26 seasons. Specifically, Samton said that “Down Under” is currently filming and that even though fans should be ready to see new things, the show will stay true to its original concept.

“These are real yachties doing a real job so you have to stay within those confines because the audience isn’t going to want anything that is too produced or fake,” Samton said. “So we have to find ways to reinvent while staying true to the original concept of the show.”

And as Olender said: “I’m sure that every year if I were to work with this franchise again, that I’ll be thrown a collection of total chaotic and disastrous stews — that’s what makes it watchable.”

Shivani Gonzalez is a news assistant at The Times who writes a weekly TV column and contributes to a variety of sections. More about Shivani Gonzalez

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Originally appeared on E! Online