Below Deck Sailing Yacht: The second spin-off

Below Deck is the reality TV show of the moment. With many other reality TV show formats looking tired and overused, the documentation of life working on board real-life superyachts and mega yachts remains fresh and exciting.

There are so many people, variables and factors involved in a yacht charter season that no two seasons of Below Deck are ever the same. The premise may not differ too much from series to series, but the ever-changing locations, situations and relationships make for a fluid and unpredictable watch.

This is one of the keys to Below Deck’s success. Combined with the fact it’s set in the aspirational world of superyachts – one that many people can only dream of experiencing – it’s not difficult to understand why audiences are obsessed with the show and its cast.

Bravo, the US network behind Below Deck, is not resting on its laurels though.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht cast for season one
Below Deck Sailing Yacht season one cast | Photo by: Laurent Basset/Bravo

After the success of Below Deck and Below Deck Mediterranean, a second spin-off show was announced by the network: Below Deck Sailing Yacht. Launched in 2020, the series was to contain all the usual thrills and spills, but it would be set aboard a large sailing yacht rather than a motor yacht.

It wasn’t a necessary change… but that’s not to say we didn’t want it!

Yachting Pages looks into the second spin-off show, summarising everything a Below Deck lover needs to know to keep on top of things. But don’t worry, there are no episodic spoilers!

NB: All of the superyachts used in Below Deck are not known by their real names; they are given new identities purely for the show.

What is Below Deck Sailing Yacht?

The premise of the show remains the same as its two predecessors, but it contains different personnel and, most interestingly, a different type of superyacht. The trials and tribulations on board are no longer taking place on a motor yacht – this time it documents the crew on board a sailing yacht.

For yachting enthusiasts this is quite a big difference, but even for novices it represents a significant change too. All the usual recognisable features of the yacht’s exterior are vastly different, as are some of the activities carried out on board. It’s just the right blend of fresh and familiar.

Each episode of Below Deck Sailing Yacht has an approximate running time of 42 minutes.

Season One

The destination for the show’s first season was Greece, and it first aired in February 2020. The captain and crew worked aboard Parsifal III, a 54-metre (177-foot) Perini Navi sailing yacht built in 2005 (and later refitted in 2012).

First broadcast on Bravo in 2020, the season consisted of 17 episodes and featured the following crew members:

  • Glenn Shephard – Captain
  • Byron Hissey – Chief Engineer
  • Paget Berry – First Officer
  • Adam Glick – Chef
  • Jenna MacGillivray – Chief Stewardess
  • Madison Stalker – 2nd Stewardess
  • Georgia Grobler – 3rd Stewardess
  • Ciara Duggan – Deckhand
  • Parker McCown – Deckhand (episodes 1-12)
  • Christopher Miller – Deckhand (episodes 12-17)
Tom Pearson, Below Deck Sailing Yacht season three
Tom Pearson is among the season three cast | Photo by: Laurent Basset/Bravo

Season Two

Season two took place in Croatia and aired in 2021. Parsifal III was once again the featured sailing yacht, representing one of the few times in the show’s history that the same yacht was used in consecutive seasons.

The season featured 18 episodes and boasted the following cast members:

  • Glenn Shephard – Captain
  • Colin Macrae – Chief Engineer
  • Gary King – First Officer
  • Natasha De Bourg – Chef
  • Daisy Kelliher – Chief Stewardess
  • Dani Soares – 2nd Stewardess
  • Alli Dore – 3rd Stewardess
  • Sydney Zaruba – Deckhand
  • Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux – Deckhand

Season Three

Season three is based in Menorca, Spain, and began airing in 2022. Parsifal III continued as the charter sailing yacht, which represents a third consecutive appearance on the series.

The cast included:

  • Glenn Shephard – Captain
  • Colin Macrae – Chief Engineer
  • Gary King – First Officer
  • Marcos Spaziani – Chef
  • Daisy Kelleher – Chief Stewardess
  • Gabriela Barrigan – 2nd Stewardess
  • Ashley Marti – 3rd Stewardess
  • Kelsie Goglia – Deckhand
  • Tom Pearson - Deckhand

Parsifal III, sailing yacht featured on Below Deck Sailing Yacht
The sailing yacht used in Below Deck Sailing Yacht | Photo by: Laurent Basset/Bravo

With the success the show is enjoying and the fact it has a USP that sets it apart from the main series and its other spin offs, there’s every reason to think Below Deck Sailing Yacht will continue for many years.

The Below Deck Sailing Yacht cast are becoming more established and with their popularity on the rise, it will be interesting to see what happens when they hop on board once again.


Read more Below Deck articles in our dedicated library. Alternatively, if you're inspired by the thought of working on a yacht, you can search for a Crew Agent near you.

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