‘Below Deck’: João Franco from ‘Below Deck Med’ Disagrees With Captain Lee Over Anchor Watch
Captain Lee Rosbach‘s comment about anchor watch didn’t seem to sit well with Below Deck Mediterranean bosun João Franco.
The Below Deck captain responded to a fan’s question about anchor watch. Below Deck Med deck crew members are often filmed doing the overnight watch, so a fan wondered if anchor watch footage was simply cut on Below Deck.
But Rosbach tweeted he didn’t always do anchor watch. “Nope, no need for it in some cases and others call for it,” he responded. “I only do anchor watches when called for. I do not compromise safety, but when I deem it necessary I do have them. It’s a situational call. Up to the Capt.”
João Franco disagreed with Captain Lee’s statement
During Below Deck Med Season 3, Franco complained because bosun Conrad Empson refused to post a night watch when the boat was docked. Franco worried that unwanted intruders could come aboard the superyacht and argued with Empson about having a night watch.
“Sorry Cap I disagree,” Franco responded to Rosbach’s tweet. “I couldn’t work on a boat that doesn’t do anchor watches. I’d feel very unsafe not having a set of eyes and ears on deck for ANYTHING that may happen. Too many unexpected near calls in my short time in yachting that justify my mindset on this.”
“I have at least 5 reasons (past experiences) that nobody could have avoided,” Franco added. “Things can go wrong VERY quickly and it happens unexpectedly. Why not have someone around to prevent potential hazards from escalating? It takes very little for a potential hazard to become a fatal one.”
A fan came for Franco, sharing that Rosbach has far more experience. But Franco compared seat belt use to anchor watch. “It has nothing to do with respect. It’s a matter of choice. I choose anchor watches. Why do you wear a seat belt in a car when you know you drive safe??”
A recent indictment brought new light to anchor watch
Captain Sandy Yawn from Below Deck Med shared an article about the captain at the helm of a deadly boat fire that occurred off the California coast. The fire occurred at night and 34 people died.
“The grand jury cited three specific federal safety violations – failures to assign a night watch or roving patrol aboard the boat, to conduct sufficient crew training or to conduct adequate fire drills,” Yawn tweeted along with the story.
The captain of a dive boat was recently indicted on federal manslaughter charges, according to US prosecutors. The fire was caused by the captain’s “misconduct, negligence, and inattention to his duties,” the prosecutors’ statement said, The Guardian reports.
“Night watch such a simple thing schedule… I wouldn’t mind doing it most nights I’m already a bit nocturnal,” one fan responded to Yawn’s tweet. Another person wrote, “This tragedy forever changed the dive boat industry, hopefully for the better. As a largely “self-regulated” industry (no enforcement onboard) it’s common to see misunderstanding and a disregard of the regs (intentional or not). Indictments reflect this, but don’t benefit the lost.”
