Captain Lee Rosbach Experiences a Series First in the Below Deck Season 7 Finale
This season was unlike any other for the Below Deck boss.
Below Deck Season 7 turned out to be one for the books for Captain Lee Rosbach.
In the season finale on February 3, Captain Lee revealed that he experienced a major first this season. "Well, we made it. And this is the first time that I didn't have to terminate somebody," Captain Lee told the rest of the crew during their final tip meeting of the season. "I think that says a lot."
Yes, Captain Lee has fired someone every season of Below Deck prior to this, although before C.J. LeBeau left the boat in Season 1, he and Sam Orme were given the option of having their pay docked and staying for the remainder of the season or getting his full tip and disembarking the yacht after they were caught swimming and drinking beer during charter.
Just because Captain Lee didn't fire anyone doesn't mean there weren't any changes among the Valor crew this season. When deckhand Abbi Murphy decided to quit earlier this charter season, Captain Lee welcomed Rhylee Gerber back to the crew. Ashton Pienaar would later tell Captain Lee that firing Rhylee would be the best course of action for the deck team. However, the Below Deck boss didn't agree and decided to keep Rhylee in the crew.
Kate Chastain also threatened to quit and stayed off the yacht for the night after things got heated with some of her crew members during a night off. However, the chief stew came back to the boat ready to work the next morning.
Kate said in the season finale that she was glad she stuck it out amid all of the challenges she encountered, especially after the crew earned a $20,000 tip for the last charter (that's $1,800 apiece) and $154,700 in tips total this season ($14,063 per person). "I've made it through the gauntlet," Kate said during an interview in the episode. "It wasn't an easy season, but tips like this make working with Kevin [Dobson] almost worth it."
Captain Lee thanked fans for watching this season of Below Deck on Twitter as the season finale aired on February 3. "Thanks to all who have been so supportive all season," he tweeted. "I really appreciate all of you."
Though it's not always easy being the fearless leader of the Below Deck yacht, Captain Lee wouldn't trade it for anything. "I still have the best goddamn job in the world," he said at the end of the season finale.
The Valor crew breaks down the season in the Below Deck After Show, above.
Captain Lee and the rest of the crew will be back to discuss all of the jaw-dropping moments aboard the Valor during the upcoming Below Deck Season 7 reunion. The Daily Dish caught up with the yachties backstage and dished on the new series, Below Deck Sailing Yacht, which airs Mondays at 9/8c. Check out their best advice for Bravo's newest batch of yachties, below.
