Captain Glenn Shephard has been a familiar face throughout all four seasons of Below Deck Sailing Yacht, where he has commanded Parsifal III.
From dealing with the yacht's unpredictable challenges and managing onboard love triangles, to enjoying oversized crackers in the galley, the Bravo star has made the 177-foot vessel his second home for more than 15 years.
Usually catering to demanding guests as they charter through Greece, Spain, and Italy, it seems fitting that the 63-year-old chatted with us from the comfort of his own boat, Avalon, in Croatia.
Season 5 of Below Deck Sailing Yacht has been one of the most anticipated in the show's history. Viewers have been eagerly awaiting its release after photos confirmed filming took place last summer.
Initially slated for a February debut, fans have speculated that the latest season’s release has been delayed following allegations of sexual misconduct against first mate Gary King, made by a production member just days after filming wrapped. King has vehemently denied the accusations.
Despite the controversy, the Montreal native reassured fans that the new season is on its way. However, he remains unsure of exactly when viewers will see him alongside engineer Colin Macrae and chief stew Daisy Kelliher back on their screens.
He told The Standard: “They announced it at BravoCon in November. But then it didn’t air in Spring or Summer. I think it’s coming soon, but I don’t know exactly when. The network decides that. I get endless questions on social media about it, but all I can say is, 'It’s coming soon'.
“We just have to be patient.”
Though the delay is frustrating, it appears both Shephard and fans will have to wait a bit longer for the next season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht. In the meantime, UK fans can catch him at the Southampton International Boat Show 2024 later this month. The event, the largest of its kind in the UK, returns for its 55th year at Mayflower Park from 13th to 22nd September 2024.
Speaking about his involvement, he said: "It's pretty cool. I'm really excited."
The seasoned captain will participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, host a meet-and-greet, and take part in a Q&A session. And he assured us that he’s ready for all questions, even tough ones regarding the recent Bayesian tragedy, which claimed the lives of British entrepreneur Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah, and four others when their luxury yacht sank off Sicily.
Boat enthusiasts have been eager to hear Shephard’s perspective on the tragic sinking of Bayesian, especially given his experience with Parsifal III, a superyacht from the same manufacturer. Although that’s where the two vessels similarities end, with Parsifal boasting two masts, not one. It also doesn't have a lifting keel, meaning stability is always at its maximum onboard.
Speaking of the tragedy, Shephard added: “I know there's going to be questions, and I'm happy to address them, but I'm not going to speculate. All I can say is, my heart goes out to the family and loved ones of the people that perish. It's a horrible tragedy, and I'll also say it's definitely a freak accident. You know anyone thinking about going out on a boat and worried that's going to happen - that doesn't happen and I couldn't believe that it could happen.
“We're going to have to take steps to make sure it never happens again, obviously. But no one thought that that could happen. We're all blown away - people in the industry, naval architects - it was a freak incident. That's all I can say.”
Glenn stressed that the Marine Accident Investigation Branch will thoroughly examine the situation, avoiding “guesswork and conspiracy theories” amid the growing social media speculation. He also underlined the importance of safety onboard and reassured viewers that such freak accidents are uncommon.
“Safety is critical,” he said. “It's the most important thing at all times. And we're always keeping an eye on the weather, obviously, but that what happened was a very localised, I think was a very localised event.
“It probably came and gone in a matter of minutes. It's not a hurricane. It's not a storm that's lasting all night. It's something that blows through. I don't know I wasn't there, but that's what I think. And so you have to take all the precautions to be ready for anything, you know, and that's I think we will all learn from this.”
With his sailing knowledge sure to be challenged this weekend, Shephard can usually rely on the camaraderie of his fellow Below Deck captains to riff off of.
Since the debut of Below Deck Sailing Yacht in 2020, he has formed close bonds with Captain Sandy Yawn and Captain Lee Rosbach, whom he hopes will “take to the high seas again” after missing season 12 due to ill health.
However, Shephard's colleagues have had their share of drama. It all started when Yawn stepped in for Rosbach during Season 11 after he had taken ill. Their feud reached fever pitch when he publicly criticised her leadership and her decision to fire stew Camille Lamb without telling him. As a result, Yawn cemented their fallout by not inviting Rosbach to her wedding in May.
Despite the drama, Shephard has stayed neutral and hopes for reconciliation. He shared: “I always like to bring people together, but I don’t know the full story. There’s talk, and it seems they’ve confirmed they’re not the best of friends. But life’s too short for that.
“When we were all together on stage at BravoCon, they seemed fine. But personalities are tricky — especially in the yachting world, where square pegs don’t always fit into round holes. Strong personalities can mean conflict, and resolving that is a massive skill in any industry."
Looking ahead, the captain is contemplating his future with the show after five seasons. For now, fans can rest assured that Captain Glenn isn’t ready to retire from the captain’s chair just yet. He’s aiming to strike a balance between his work and personal enjoyment, signalling a move towards a more leisurely future.
“I’ll probably continue doing it as long as they keep asking me back. I love it. But because of my age, it’s time for me to stop and smell the roses a bit. My sailing days for work aren’t over, but I’m not going to do it full-time anymore. I’d love to do more seasons of the show.”
