‘Below Deck’: Captain Lee Knew the Deck Crew Would Come for Rhylee Gerber

Even though Captain Lee Rosbach from Below Deck may not know exactly what goes on “below deck” he still knows to trust his gut. Both Rosbach and Captain Sandy Yawn from Below Deck Mediterranean have shared that they are typically immune from most of the drama brewing within their crew.

Even though Rosbach is stunned to see the footage from the season in Thailand he had a feeling that the deck team was ganging up on deckhand Rhylee Gerber. During the latest dramatic episode, Gerber’s fate hung in the balance. Bosun Ashton Pienaar met with Rosbach and called for her to be fired, insisting that he simply could not work with her, despite only having six days left in the season.

Rosbach looked pained as Pienaar spoke but wanted to do his due diligence and get an account from each deckhand, including Gerber. Deckhands Tanner Sterback and Brian de Saint Pern almost parroted Pienaar’s disdain for Gerber. Gerber also knew she was in trouble since it was three against one.

Rosbach is happy he consulted with Kate Chastain

One reason why Gerber was not fired was that Rosbach asked chief stew Kate Chastain for her opinion. Chastain shared with Rosbach what was really going on within the deck team, which helped Rosbach decide to keep Gerber on deck and insist the team learn to work together.

Rosbach recently blogged that he knew the deck crew was going to band together. “Kate appreciated your input as far as Ashton and Rhylee is concerned,” Rosbach wrote. “I heard the same song from the ‘fraternity’ which I expected, and to get a relative objective point of view from you and Rhylee was good to hear.”

Rosbach also slammed Pienaar

Now that Rosbach is privy to all the footage and information, he fully realized that Pienaar spent time turning the crew against Gerber. “Ashton, you told all of the crew to prep themselves for Rhylee and demeaned her from jump street and then can’t understand why she isn’t responding to you as you think she should,” Rosbach wrote. “I’m not defending her issues, but you didn’t manage her, you ostracized her and totally alienated her so you could prove your point which proved to be wrong.” 

“She tried to have a conversation with you and you never listened to a word she said to you,” Rosbach pointed out. “You were busy formulating your response without ever hearing what she had to say. Very dismissive of you. You sir have a long way to go. I hope you get there.”

Rosbach finished his blog by addressing Gerber. “Rhylee, you didn’t think I forgot about you, did you? I realize what you have been through, and I empathize with you. You didn’t get a fair shot, but I do stand by my former comments, it’s not what is thrown at you it’s how you react to it, is what you will be remembered for and what you will learn from that experience. You got dealt bad cards but could have played the hand better. Confrontation doesn’t always get you where you need or want to be. I’m glad you sucked it up and so far, have stuck it out. That’s admirable. Hang in there and let’s see where we end up.”