Below Deck Sailing Yacht Recap: Budgie-Smuggling Boofhead

As someone who has spent years working in the high-pressure world of luxury yachting, I can say that Cloyce seems like a character straight out of a sitcom. He’s got the quirky charm, the questionable taste in music, and an unwavering confidence that borders on arrogance.


On Entertainment Tonight and TikTok, Daisy made it clear that one reason she was upset with Gary in the previous week’s episode was because filming for the season started just two days after the reunion gathering. I find it disheartening that this detail may have been left out or intentionally kept unclear — I can’t help but be captivated by reality shows consuming their own tails, and if the cast members fail to admit that the show itself influences their lives, it becomes increasingly detached from any semblance of “reality.

That said, this episode gave us plenty of entertaining workplace fodder that stands on its own, even if it happened over a year ago. We pick back up at dinner on night one of the first charter, where two guests are still waiting for their plates. Chef Cloyce finally gets to them, apologizes, and still announces the dish, ignoring that the majority already finished eating it. Buckle up, because that barely cracks the top-three cringiest moments from Cloyce tonight.

Following dinner, the evening’s lace-and-leather theme persists as a dance instructor takes over. For the class, the team members dress up, with some men donning women’s tops. The focus is on learning a sultry walk rather than actual dancing. Davide puts in maximum effort; it’s clear he’s not just a model benefiting from nepotism. He shared that he once married a man during a wild festival, despite identifying as straight. This was more like a humorous legal bond, right? They’re divorced now, but they did make their union official on Facebook. I’m excited to see the vibe Davide brings when the crew heads out for a night on the town.

Gary navigates the small boat, called a tender, to return the dance instructor to land. The atmosphere is tense, and foreboding music plays, hinting at an impending accident, even if you haven’t seen any previews about it. Despite his chatty demeanor and constant gaze towards the water, Gary unfortunately crashes the boat into a large rock. The impact is significant, as shown by the crew’s response and the damaged fiberglass and bubbles. This appears to be Gary’s first boating mishap. Worried about the crew’s safety, he checks on them, indicating that it was more than just a minor collision. The tender sustains damage but doesn’t appear to be leaking. They return to the boat named Parsifal III, where Gary informs Glenn about the accident. Glenn advises that while the tender won’t sink, there might be engine issues if water gets inside overnight. Gary assures it seems fine, and I’m left wondering if there’s something unusual in the nighttime shots of the tender. The next morning, Gary confirms that the tender is still dry. He then films underwater footage to examine the cosmetic damage. Initially, I root against Gary because the damage looks severe, but it turns out to be only superficial.

As a movie buff, I found myself caught up in the developing chemistry between Danni and Keith, who were playfully engaging in their secret rendezvous within the laundry room’s cozy confines. In his own words, Keith shared that he’s usually committed to relationships, having been with his last girlfriend for a considerable three and a half years. However, he admitted that he’s now ready to re-enter the dating scene.

Surprisingly, Daisy delivers both stews to the beach club for Dr. Contessa, Dr. Scott, and their companions from “Married to Medicine”. It’s unusual for Daisy as she typically avoids sending out stews on excursions, but for O Beach Ibiza, where they serve as almost waitresses, she makes an exception. Meanwhile, the guests put into practice the seductive dance moves they learned last night, with Danni finding herself smitten by Anthony, a club employee. They exchange contact details, and Danni swiftly labels him her boyfriend. Two guests forgot their swimsuits for the pool, so the stews call Gary to bring them over. Daisy has to rouse an irritated Gary from sleep since he’s the only one who can drive the tender (although that’s questionable now). Spencer adds humor by swimming in his clothes, but remains cheerful when his swim trunks are delivered.

Danni and Diana are overheating under the sun, risking sunburn, and finding themselves spending more time at the club than initially planned; they interact with the guests who wish to stay late. They’re taking shots straight from the bottle and have just ordered another round. To be honest, it puzzles me why one would charter a luxury yacht and spend over five hours of that time in a nightclub. We can have such places at home! However, since we’re in Ibiza, visiting the club before your yacht charter is recommended, then relaxing on the yacht the following day. This should be self-explanatory. Now, let me stop my rant and simply say that I am here to assist with any travel-related advice you might need.

In simpler terms, Daisy suggests replacing some crew members with deck crew. When asked, Gary declines but Emma convinces him. Later, Gary replaces Keith for the girls. Danni introduces Keith to her friend Anthony who is now shirtless. Later, Keith implies Danni is dating above her league. Danni gets upset and calls Keith a rude name. The term “budgie-smuggling boofhead” seems confusing to me as it refers to a man wearing Speedos, but I might find it amusing if used in a similar context.

At the club, one of the guests, Linda, requests a double cocktail with no specific type, hinting that it’s past time to depart. Eventually, at seven, they decide to leave the club and ask for dinner to be served at eight. This seems optimistic, and as expected, when they return to the boat, Daisy queries about the schedule adjustment, pushing it back to 8:30.

Cloyce’s Thai coconut curry with roasted sweet potato turns out well. Again, it seems like it’s only one course and dessert. He’s only made two meals today because breakfast (with no individual orders) was really a brunch, so if I were a guest, I’d be underwhelmed. Although the apple crumble with homemade piña colada ice cream does look fire. These guests have been drinking all day; I’m shocked they don’t ask for more food or some drunchies, but I guess it’s because they’re still drinking. Hakim orders whiskey shots for everyone and asks Cloyce to join them. The chef gets permission from Glenn and says he’ll do less than a shot. I’m like, Okay, Cloyce, making smart choices, you’re growing on me, and then he slaps me in the face by rapping a song he wrote as he serves the shots. The secondhand embarrassment is debilitating. His breath control is lacking, his Lin-Manuel-esque flow is whiny, and the lyrics have nothing to do with the moment. “I’m making magic, I’m like Harry Potter / I’m probably getting hit on by your daughter.” Incredibly, Daisy and the guests love it. When asked where he gets inspiration, Cloyce sincerely says, “I don’t know. The stuff just comes to me.” Boy Wonder apparently also does poetry, archery, dance, and magic. He considers himself a renaissance boy. In an interview, he does an “ace up his sleeve” card trick, except he doesn’t show us the ace first, so it’s not a trick, just prop comedy.

The following day, the doctors bid farewell. They remark that this was their best anniversary excursion they’ve ever had, which, oddly enough, feels like a subtle insult since they specifically mentioned it was an ‘anniversary trip’. They are greeted with Glenn’s first signature farewell horn honk of the year. During the team meeting, Glenn praises Cloyce for the improvement from night one’s dinner mishap but commends night two as better. The captain acknowledges that dealing with the guests was challenging for the interior staff, but commends Daisy’s team. The tip amounted to $15,000, which seemed a bit meager, yet only Diana had the audacity to express (in an interview) that she wished they received more.

As the team prepares for their first evening, Cloyce mentions his preference for elegance and slips in a humorous remark about himself. Danni observes that he’s dressed like a typical American father with his tucked-in shirt. During dinner, the men step outside for a cigarette break, and Gary queries who Cloyce is interested in. Cloyce expresses his belief that Daisy would make an excellent wife, admiring it when a woman tells him her plans. However, Cloyse doesn’t appeal to Daisy, but Keith and Danni seem more compatible. Earlier, Keith apologized for his comment about her appearance, and they shared a somewhat romantic moment watching the night ocean. At dinner, Danni inquires if Keith will work the next shift. She proposes they could spend the time cuddling, but he must work, always maintaining professionalism. Later, she brings up their earlier conversation about his comment on her looks again.

Daisy and Gary continue to clash: She insists she’s stood by him loyally, but this time she’s ready to sacrifice him for her own interests. He’s either on her side or not. In an interview, Gary professes he has nothing but affection for Daisy, yet his actions fail to reflect that sentiment. Oh gods of the sea and Bravo producers, if it’s not too much to ask, could you please give us a break from watching these two repeat their same old dynamics next season?

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2024-10-15 17:54