Lara Du Preez Received a Serious Promotion on Below Deck Mediterranean
The deckhand noted that her new role feels like a dream "literally coming true."
Changes are afoot for the Mustique crew on Below Deck Mediterranean Season 8.
After singing Lara Du Preez's praises in interviews and to Captain Sandy Yawn, Bosun Luka Brunton made a major decision about the deckhand's role on the superyacht on Season 8, Episode 5 (which aired Oct. 23).
Find out more about what Luka decided — and learn what else went down on the episode — by scrolling below!
Why Lara Du Preez Was Promoted
After navigating a difficult charter and trying to manage new addition Max Salvador, Luka recognized that Lara was definitely the right fit for the lead deckhand role.
"I've been thinking of appointing a lead deckhand," he said in an interview on the episode. "Lara's has been doing a really good job, and she shows quite a lot of initiative, and Lara deserves it."
Plus, he revealed, there's another reason why he wanted to promote Lara.
"I'm also thinking [that] Max is definitely my first managerial challenge," he added. "Hopefully promoting [Lara] kind of motivates Max to also see what he should be like."
Eventually, Luka asked to speak with Captain Sandy to discuss Lara's promotion.
"I was thinking about giving Lara the lead deckhand position today," he told Captain Sandy, who said that the promotion was "big news."
"I'm glad that Luka is thinking like a leader, and that he's thinking about advancement for his team," Captain Sandy said in an interview on the episode. "I love that he has that mentality."
Lara Du Preez's Reaction to Her Promotion
As soon as Luka got Captain Sandy's approval, he went to chat with Lara on deck. Though she initially thought that she was "in trouble," Luka told her the good news.
"You've been f-cking smashing it, so you're going to become the lead deckhand," he said. Lara didn't believe her boss at first, and she soon became emotional about her new role.
"I was really taken aback. Like, it's always been my dream," she shared in a confessional. "I even have a goal board, or whatever you want to call it, and on it was like, 'I want to be lead deckhand.'"
As Lara noted, working on deck is her true passion.
"I've lived a very rocky life; I'm a f-cking crazy horse, but something clicked in me as soon as I started yachting, and I can't believe that my dreams are literally just coming true," she concluded.
See more from Lara, Luka, Captain Sandy, and the rest of the Mustique crew by tuning in to new episodes of Below Deck Mediterranean on Mondays at 9/8c on Bravo. Stream episodes the next day on Peacock as well.
