This article contains information around Sandy's former issues with addiction.
Captain Sandy has been the captain in charge of Bravo's Below Deck Mediterranean for the past six seasons. The series started with Captain Mark Howard for season 1 before replacing him with Captain Sandy for season 2 onward. Sandy has been an uplifting and powerful figure both on TV and in the yachting world. With over 30 years of experience, Sandy is a badass captain making moves in the yachting industry.
Below Deck Med. fans know that Captain Sandy demands respect and doesn't tolerate poor attitudes, performances, or meals in the kitchen. But there's more to Sandy than her job as a captain.
Updated on November 8th, 2022, by Lynn Gibbs: Captain Sandy just finished up her sixth season with Bravo’s Below Deck. As the captain of multiple vessels, Sandy takes her role seriously and is an inspiration to those who work with and for her. Even though Sandy has shared parts of her life over the years, there’s a lot that fans don’t know about one of the strongest captain in the series.
Don't Compare Her To Captain Lee
Below Deck has three different spinoffs. It's similar to the Real Housewives franchise which focuses on different cities instead of destinations. In the yachting world, the shows focus on different parts of the world and the yachts or sailboats they're on.
Captain Sandy and Captain Lee are two of the more well-known captains in the franchise, but fans shouldn't compare them. Sandy told Decider, "When people compare me to Captain Lee on Twitter, that makes me realize they have no idea who I am, or who he is." She continued saying that she respected and cared for Captain Lee but her role as a woman in the yachting world was far different from Lee's. Because of this, she's one of the more likable captains on Below Deck.
Is Sandy’s Career Ruined After Appearing On Below Deck?
Sandy and other Below Deck members made a BravoCon '22 appearance where they joined a panel to answer questions. According to Metro, Captain Lee joined Sandy in the notion that the show could have ruined their established careers as captains.
“‘I remember getting a lot of, ‘You’re never going to work in this business again,’ 10 years ago, and ‘Your career is over.’” Sandy agreed with Lee’s statement, saying, “I was told if you do this, you won’t be taken [seriously] as a professional anymore.” The captains agreed people warned them because the show would shed a light on the highs and lows of their industry but as of now, their careers have never been better.
Sandy Just Started A Podcast
Thanks to an exciting Instagram page, Sandy announced that she and her girlfriend launched a podcast on November 1st! Called The Captain Sandy and Leah Rae Show, the podcast launched with three episodes. Fans can also catch glimpses of their podcast on YouTube.
According to Captain Sandy’s post, “Our show is all about doing the next right thing and helping people navigate the challenges they face on a day-to-day basis.” Even more interesting, the couple will talk about real-life, behind the scenes moments as well.
She's In A Serious Relationship
Captain Sandy doesn't talk about her personal life too often on Below Deck Med. but over on Instagram, it's easy to see that she's in a serious relationship with singer and skin expert, Leah Shafer.
Funny enough, Bravo explained that the two slid into each other's DMs in 2018 and talked for a while through messages before finally meeting each other in Los Angeles. The connection was so strong that Sandy moved to Leah's home in Denver, Colorado.
And The Couple Went Through A Cancer Scare
In 2019, Captain Sandy revealed on Twitter that her girlfriend had Breast Cancer. With a career that took her overseas, Sandy took some time to focus on Leah's health.
At Bravo's first BravoCon in 2019, Captain Sandy told audiences that Leah was in remission after having a lumpectomy and that she was now cancer-free. However, Leah wasn't the only one with a cancer scare. Captain Sandy admitted to Bravo that her doctors found a spot on her kidney that ended up being stage two cancer. Since they found cancer early, it ended up saving her life. There's a lot Below Deck teaches about yachting, Sandy has done a lot to teach viewers about heath reminders.
She Loves A Bravo Crossover!
It turns out that Bravolebrities love a Bravo crossover as much as fans do. There are a few shows like Below Deck on Bravo, and if there was one city in The Real Housewives franchise that Sandy would invite on as charter guests, it would be the women from The Real Housewives of New York.
Sandy told Decider that she enjoyed being "challenged" by her charter guests and that the women of New York would give her crew the challenge of a lifetime. She said, "I need the client to tell me the truth. They’ll tell the truth."
...And She's Friends With Some Of The Housewives!
After attending BravoCon, being on Watch What Happens Live, and joining Andy Cohen's Gay Pride Parade float, fans wondered if Captain Sandy became friends with other Bravolebrities.
According to The List, Sandy loved The Real Housewives of Potomac's Gizelle Bryant's "vibe." After meeting her, she went home and watched Real Housewives of Potomac and later complimented Gizelle's character. "We didn’t even really talk a lot, but she was so gracious," she said. Gizelle is one of RHOP's more entertaining Housewives, and it's a good look that she's friends with fellow Bravolebrities.
Sandy Was In A Life-Shattering Accident Off The Boat
There are some fake things about Below Deck, but Sandy has always kept it real. As a captain at sea for over 30 years, it would be expected that Captain Sandy had been through her fair share of hardships. She even said in that she escaped pirates.
In this case, according to The List, Captain Sandy experienced a life-altering accident after riding her motorcycle. When she was 49 years old, she crashed her motorcycle into a car where she fractured some bones. She ended up needing reconstructive surgery on her foot so she could walk correctly again. It was because of this accident that Sandy learned about the cancerous spot on her kidney.
The Yacht Life Wasn't Always For Sandy
After seeing Sandy in charge of a massive vessel with staff and charter guests, fans assumed there was nothing Sandy couldn't do. And while she's comfortable in her stable position as captain, life hasn't always been easy for the Bravo star.
A fun fact about Below Deck is that becoming a yacht captain wasn't something Sandy sought to do at first. The List noted that she "fell" into it. Growing up in Florida, Sandy had been around the water and boating all her life but didn't make it a career until her former captain helped her get her captain's license.
She Had A Troubled Youth
Captain Sandy has a great head on her shoulders. She's had some of the funniest quotes on Below Deck while being organized and professional. Being a great captain is her greatest mission and it's one she takes seriously. She's not only in charge of millions of dollars on a yacht, but she's in charge of the people's lives on board. But she wasn't always so driven and rule-abiding.
According to Cheat Sheet, when Sandy was a teenager, she described herself as a "mess" because of addiction. She said, "I was a major addict and alcoholic," and it almost ruined her life. By her mid-20s, Sandy got her life in order and never looked back.
...And Grew Up In A Hardworking Family
There are some amazing chefs on Below Deck, but fans noticed how hard Sandy is on them during charters. And it turns out that even though a chef is a one-person job on a yacht, Sandy demanded excellence.
According to Bravo, Sandy grew up in her family's meat business and had a hard childhood. She said, "We walked a mile to our bus stop, we had to get up at 5:30 in the morning, we had seven horses, 42 dogs, my dad was a hunter, we lived on six acres, and we had to feed all the animals." She continued saying that it was because of her childhood that her work ethic is so strong as an adult. "My childhood was one of work, that's why my work ethic is so strong."
Sandy Tried Going Vegan (But It Didn't Work Out)
Growing up in the meat industry where Sandy claimed she ate meat every single night, it's surprising that she tried making the switch to veganism.
After being at sea and getting to know the oceans, Sandy tried to stop eating fish after already limiting her meat intake. However, after about a year of trying, she realized veganism isn't always for her. "Honestly, I try, but I didn’t feel well to be honest. I didn’t have the energy," she told Women's Health. Between Sandy's work ethic and knowledge of boats, there are countless reasons why fans should watch Below Deck.