Entertainment
'Below Deck' Season 3 Cast Will Include Old & New Faces Ready To Bring The Drama
Last Tuesday night's episode of The Real Housewives of New York City caught me off guard. Not because of how emotional and sentimental it was — although that got me, too — but because during one of the commercial breaks, a teaser for Season 3 of Below Deck , which returns Aug. 25, suddenly appeared on my TV screen. The only appropriate reaction to something like this is a squeal, which I promptly gave, I kid you not. Once I got out all of my jubilation, it was on to the next order of business: wondering about who will appear on Season 3 of Below Deck .
Casting for a show like Below Deck is essential, because all of the fun is seeing the drama, discipline, and hook-ups that go on, well, below deck. Somehow Bravo has managed to have casting for Below Deck be on point for its first two seasons. Let's hope the third continues that streak.
By the looks of it, Bravo has another winning cast on its hands. The crew is a good mix of returning fan favorites and newbies who look like they're going to rock the boat. Here's why the Season 3 cast of Below Deck may just be the best one yet.
Image: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
Kate Chastain
Pour yourself a mojito. Kate’s coming back to Below Deck! With her sassiness, creativity, and eternal “b*tchy resting face,” the chief stew was pretty much the best damn thing about Season 3, although the moments between her and chef Ben Robinson are a close second.
Since Season 2 of Below Deck wrapped, Kate has apparently finished a book called Lucky Charming, named after her travel blog, which will be released later this year. She’s also got a second book in the works about how readers can live the yacht life no matter how much money they have. Obviously, that includes figuring out your spirit font.
However, nothing is more exciting than knowing Kate will be back to bring her fierceness and impeccable work ethic to Below Deck this season. I can’t wait to see what towel origami she creates this time.
Image: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
Don Abenante
Don is one of the new kids on the boat this season. He has a degree in automotive and diesel technology and has been working as an engineer on yachts and tugboats for the past eight years. He has a real passion for the boating industry, but let’s just hope all of the shenanigans that go on throughout Below Deck don’t ruin that for him.
Image: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
Captain Lee Rosbach
Captain Lee is either the only one brave enough or stupid enough to take on the position of making sure this ragtag group of young yachties and the eccentric millionaires they’re paid to entertain set sail safely and have a good time for all three seasons of Below Deck. I’m just kidding. There’s no doubt it’s the former.
As the fearless leader of the yacht, Captain Lee is a no-nonsense guy. If you don’t do the work, you’re getting booted, which we saw last season when Andrew Sturby got his pink slip. Sure, Captain Lee has butt heads with crew members on several occasions, but really, he’s just a big teddy bear who cougar passengers flirt with, Below Deck cast members have the utmost respect for, and the at-home audience can’t get enough of.
Image: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
Leon Walker
I’ve got bad news for you. Chef Ben will appear on Season 3 of Below Deck, but not much. Instead, new cast member Leon Walker will take over the kitchen.
Like Ben, Leon is not from around these parts. He’s of English and Jamaican descent but now lives in Australia, where he is the owner and head chef of Wink II Restaurant, Wink Catering, and Wink Café. Also similar to Ben, Leon is no slouch when it comes to cooking. He has cooked aboard the Queen Elizabeth during its first transatlantic voyage and brought his talents to many Michelin-starred restaurants. However, I feel like if Ben and Leon are ever in the same room together during Season 3 of Below Deck, it’s just going to be a recipe for disaster.
Image: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
Connie Arias
Connie is no stranger to the ocean. Born in Long Island, N.Y. and growing up in Melbourne Beach, Fla., Connie was constantly boating, surfing, and fishing growing up. She even joined the women’s World Qualifying Series of surfing.
Connie will represent for the ladies as a female deckhand — something that is unusual in the yachting industry — like Jennice Ontiveros did during Season 2 of Below Deck. Let’s just hope things work out better for Connie.
Image: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
Eddie Lucas
Eddie is the only full-time cast member to have appeared on all three seasons of Below Deck, with the exception of Captain Lee, and it’s easy to see why Bravo keeps him around. He’s handsome, a complete goofball, and is actually good at his job. Those three things are often hard to find all rolled up into one person.
However, with each successive season, Eddie seems to get more and more peeved at his shipmates for not following his lead in being a stand-up employee and guy. But surprisingly, it looks like Eddie is going to mess up big time in Season 3 of Below Deck, according to this sneak preview. Just please tell me we’ll see Eddie again in Season 4.
Image: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
Raquel "Rocky" Dakota
With a nickname like “Rocky,” you know Raquel has got to be trouble. Or it could just be due to the fact that she was raised in a Californian aquatic circus, according to her official bio on BravoTV.com. Whatever that means.
Her bio also describes her as “a modern day original gypsy, flipping, and twisting from mountain, sea, to city.” Her behavior in the Season 3 sneak preview shows that she’s a bit of a loose cannon. The clip also shows Raquel stripping and looking like she’s getting ready to dive right off the yacht. What did we do to deserve such an amazing Below Deck cast member?
Image: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
Amy Johnson
Amy had a big beef with Kate during Season 2 of Below Deck, so I’m kind of surprised she decided to come back for another round — and without her brother and confidante Kelley by her side to boot. Although Amy may seem like a sweet southern belle, she’s got a toughness and a kickass way about her. I think she’ll do just fine on her own.
The only thing she might have to worry about is facing Eddie again after she awkwardly revealed that she had a crush on him last season, and he seemed more intent on staying friends. But now that she’s seen how badly Kelley’s love cruise ended with Jennice, maybe she’ll just focus on keeping things professional this season.
Image: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
Emile Kotze
Born and raised in South Africa, Emile was always one to be in the water sailing, cray fishing, and surfing. It’s no surprise then that he has been a mate and deckhand on various ships around the world throughout his career.
Though Emile is skilled, he may be wilder than he seems. Kate seems to suggest that he is “batsh*t crazy” along with Raquel in the sneak preview video of Season 3. But he looks so laidback. Oh well. Craziness for them is merely entertainment for viewers, so you do you, Emile.
Image: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
