Captain Sandy Yawn shared high praise for Aesha Scott, saying she “proved herself” after they reunited on Below Deck Mediterranean’s latest season.
Over the years, Scott, 32, has become a fan favorite in the franchise, having returned in 2021 as chief stew on Below Deck Down Under. Known for her leadership, kindness, and camaraderie with Captain Jason Chambers, Scott has tackled all kinds of post-pandemic challenges in the industry.
Back on board with Yawn this year, fans were thrilled to see the two navigate rocky waters, both with crew dynamics—mainly involving Scott’s stews Elena "Ellie" Dubaich and Bri Muller, who competed for deckhand Joe Bradley’s attention—and with occasionally rude guests.
Reflecting on their season together, Yawn told The Standard ahead of the inaugural HayuFanFest in London: “Aesha is a honestly, one of the most kind souls I've ever met. She doesn't have a mean ball to her body. She is pure kindness. She has the fun factor, which we need, and she cares.
“So when Aesha left, she actually went and worked in the industry. She gained more knowledge. She came back. I know she wanted to prove herself to me. She did, and it's great having her. I adore her.”
While she applauded the experienced yachtie - perhaps she didn’t miss Scott’s lack of filter. Yawn added with a laugh: “Honestly, she and some of the things that come out of her mouth, I'm just like, ‘why did you just say that? Why did you use those words?’”
Since Scott swapped Down Under for Med, Yawn wasn’t so sure about future franchise crossovers if it meant not having Scott by her side.
“Sure, I'll have Daisy [Kelliher],” she said initially before quickly taking it back and alluding to Scott’s future on the franchise. “But wait, no, I have Aesha. She's chief stew, still she is chief stew. Yeah, I'm not trading Aesha.”
Despite fans’ excitement over seeing the duo together again, some were disappointed by the lack of a reunion for the rest of the season nine crew.
Yawn explained it was likely due to crew logistics: “The crew are scattered all over the planet like and they're all boats and jobs, and it's hard to gather them all together. It is really difficult.
“So I can imagine why they stopped doing it. That would be that's my assumption is that they're everywhere. It isn't like the housewives that live in New York, it's very different.”
In place of a season reunion, Yawn recently reconnected with her former chief stew, Hannah Ferrier, who worked with her for five seasons before her controversial exit when she was dismissed for having a CBD vape and anxiety medication on board.
After years of public tension, Yawn described their reunion warmly and shared her delight about starting a new chapter together as friends: “It was wonderful. I went to her house. I met her child and her husband, and we just had a great conversation where she didn't know a lot of the things, and I didn't know a lot of the things, and we were just like, ‘Oh my gosh’.
“Like, the last thing I ever want anyone to think is I don't like them or hate them. It doesn't live in me. I do not have any of the ill will feelings against anyone, because that's on me, right? So I don't want to live with that.
She continued: “I want everyone to be happy. I like to live like a puppy. Thinks puppies just love to love, right? So consider me like a puppy, like, so Hannah and I left very puppy-like. I love dogs. So to me, it's like the purest of love, right? Yeah? So, yeah Hannah and I are great. You know, she has her business, she has her hot man because he's handsome.”
While questions about Captain Lee Rosbach were off the table, the seasoned commander spoke fondly of her fellow captains, sharing how Captain Kerry Titheradge, who has taken over from Rosbach on Below Deck, recently reached out to her, and how she “adored” Captain Glenn Shephard, adding of him: “He’s Canadian. Has anyone ever not liked a Canadian?”
Catch up on all seasons of Below Deck Mediterranean on Hayu
