'Below Deck': Is Captain Lee testing Francesca Rubi to see if she's a worthy replacement for Kate Chastain?
'Below Deck' Season 8 has returned with a host of new faces. Fans may celebrate as Eddie Lucas is back after a hiatus (he quit the show after Season 3) but at the same time will surely miss Kate Chastain's presence. She has been a season regular for over six years and has been Captain Lee Rosbach's go-to person. The former cast member knew his moods inside out and was always there to assist him in the many challenges that charters tend to throw.
But Kate has moved on now and has been replaced by Australian native Francesca Rubi, who comes with an impressive background. She tells Captain Lee how she has been with an event management company back home and has handled a host of celebrities before joining the yachting industry. He was impressed but that there seems to be a hint of worry in his nods.
But Captain Lee is dealing with the change in his own way. He sits her down and makes her write a few dos and don'ts, says he doesn't like to micromanage, which means she would have to resolve any internal issues that she may have with her team members Elizabeth Frankini and Isabelle 'Izzy' Wouters. However, Captain Lee assures her that he will be there for her in case she is absolutely not able to manage a crisis within her team, but she would have to share an unbiased version of the situation.
He seems to be wanting to guide Francesca so that she is not lost amid the new crew. However, he doesn't appear confident about her taking up Kate's job because he feels she's got a "lot on her plate." Despite acknowledging the fact that it'll be a while before Francesca can function smoothly, Captain Lee decides to give her a lowdown on how to do to laundry and shares specific instructions about how the washed clothes need to be ironed.
"She got totally new crew and she got a new captain. She doesn't know what a d**k I can be," Captain Lee expresses during the confessional. Is he testing her abilities as a chief stewardess? Time will tell.
Catch all the new episodes of 'Below Deck' Season 8 on Bravo every Monday at 9/8c. For more information, check your local listings.