Below Deck Sailing Yacht Recap: Emma Dilemma

As a seasoned sailor with years of experience on various yachts, I must say this latest charter on the Parsifal III has been quite the rollercoaster ride! Emma, dear girl, I can see you’re struggling, and six weeks is indeed an eternity in this line of work. But remember, the sea can be as unpredictable as a New England storm, and sometimes it takes a hurricane to reveal the calm after.


This week, we’ve had two staff social outings and a guest being particular about drink garnishes. However, the central theme of the episode revolves around Emma’s self-doubts, which unfortunately makes for less enjoyable viewing. It’s 12:05 at the club, and Emma appears to be overreacting to what seemed like harmless questions from Danni and Diana. This situation is made more intense because Emma already struggles with feelings of inadequacy at work and fitting in with the group. Thankfully, they manage to move past it.

Danni expresses optimism about her situation with Keith, but she confides in Diana that she won’t be the one to initiate anything. Back on their boat, Danni and Keith share a sun lounger, and he admits his hesitation due to her assertive demeanor. Previously, Danni has dated numerous untrustworthy men; one such ex-boyfriend now lives with her former best friend, a situation that leaves her estranged from both parties. This situation hints at lingering trust issues. However, Danni believes Keith is sincere and a stark contrast to her past toxic relationships. It’s heartening to witness this change! Regrettably, she may not possess the endurance to wait for him. As a side note, she ultimately doesn’t.

Davide seems to have limited on-screen appearances, possibly due to him being confined in the engine room and interacting less with the group. The brief moments we’ve seen of him have been amusingly chaotic. After their night out, since Glenn is still awake, he invites Glenn for a dip in the Jacuzzi. When asked, Glenn politely declines. Later, while trying to climb into his top bunk, Davide nearly tumbles onto Glenn, nude. In the morning, he blames the bed designer for the mishap, but it’s clear that he was the one who was naked (and possibly under the influence) at the time, so I wonder if this tendency to avoid taking responsibility might reoccur.

For the upcoming voyage, Tiffany Moon from “The Real Housewives of Dallas” season five and her husband Daniel are on board. Cloyce expresses confidence as he previously prepared a meal for an outspoken lesbian housewife from The Real Housewives of Orange County, Braunwyn Windham-Burke. They’ve expressed a preference for a Japanese-themed dinner, and Glenn encourages them to go all out. Daisy also speaks with Cloyce before the charter, advising him to aim higher, as the current standards are relatively low, leaving ample room for improvement.

When Daisy isn’t aware of the weather prediction and Glenn provides sailing guidelines to Davide, the attendees make light-hearted jibes about the crew’s competence. This subtle impoliteness that maintains the crew alert is precisely the kind of behavior I appreciate from guests. Tiffany’s companion Joyce comments on the limited space: “I barely managed to squeeze through with my Birkin.” We understand, you’re affluent!

On the boat, Gary is starting to believe Emma’s work ethic and determination may not be up to par. During their voyage, she is asked to retrieve a rope (the lazy sheet) that controls a sail but isn’t currently in use. However, she’s having trouble getting it to its designated spot. Gary then shows her the proper amount of force required. She’s finding it difficult because she’s not familiar with this particular kind of sailboat equipped with a hydraulic system. Gary confides in the captain, expressing his concern that Emma appears less experienced than anticipated and lacking urgency. This raises questions about fairness since (at least from our understanding) he hasn’t yet discussed urgency with her. The captain, being understanding, suggests to Gary that she might benefit from more guidance and to observe if she improves.

Danni and Keith are tasked with accompanying guests during a sunset photo session at the beach. Typically, Danni playfully flirts with Keith, poking him and whispering suggestive comments to him like “they could be that couple one day“. However, Keith tries to discourage this behavior as he feels it’s inappropriate around guests. Although Danni might have perceived his comment about being too forward as helpful advice, she seems to have overlooked it. Growing annoyed, she compares his work belt to a chastity belt and feels like courting in the Victorian era is what she’s dealing with. In my opinion, some of the blame lies with her for not making the first move instead.

It makes me anxious when Cloyce admits he hasn’t delved into Japanese cuisine since his sophomore year in high school before our dinner. Contrary to my expectations, he shows up on time and his avocado, crab, and prawn rolls, along with the tempura, are highly appreciated. However, Madelaine remarks that usually the chef presents the food, implying potential difficulties. Danni laughs this off, saying Cloyce is aiming for perfection. True to his words, Cloyse does emerge to present the miso-glazed sea bass main course. Similar to the tempura, it’s not individually plated. The dinner turns out well, though I wouldn’t say it was an all-out extravaganza, especially for a one-night charter. If I were the host, I’d prefer at least five courses with individual plating. Frankly, I could get more elaborate dishes at Benihana.

Jerry “J Mo” has a specific preference when it comes to his espresso martinis, and some might say he’s picky about them. Daisy ensures that Diana prepares it accurately, but Jerry criticizes it for containing only one coffee bean. In response, Diana suggests he’ll be getting decaffeinated drinks from now on, though she claims it was a joke. However, her tone didn’t seem friendly to Jerry or Danni. Danni believes Diana lacks the warmth and friendliness required for good service, and this incident seems to support that view. To make amends, Danni prepares another espresso martini for Jerry, this time with three coffee beans. Delighted by the change, Jerry even gives her a hug and performs an exuberant handshake. Unsurprisingly, Diana finds this behavior uncomfortable. While the extra beans are just garnish, the single bean could symbolize the minimal effort that Diana seems to put forth.

In addition to struggling, Emma’s work during the night shift is below expectations. She enjoys socializing and tends to take short naps for an hour. We were all hoping you’d succeed, but… it’s tough to keep hoping after this – she seems to have had a lucky break. When she hands over duties to Keith, she claims she finished the entire boat. However, Keith finds the cockpit floor soaked, as Emma had rinsed it in her last hour. By morning, it should be dry, and he also informs Gary that Emma doesn’t seem to be drying everything properly. When Gary queries Emma about rinsing the boat, she gets defensive, insisting she did rinse it. He advises her to prioritize rinsing decks that the guests frequently use first. I worry Emma might not last on the Parsifal III, but when she consults her sister Lauren for advice, Lauren encourages her to persevere. If she manages, she’ll surely get an improved rating.

Leaving, Tiffany expresses her amazement at the crew’s proficiency and service quality. She particularly commends Danni for crafting exceptional three-bean espresso martinis. Regrettably, praise alone can’t compensate… The tip is substantial at $25,000, with Glenn praising everyone. Daisy considers this charter to be Cloyce’s finest yet.

The team ventures out for dinner, and Diana secretly hopes there will be attractive individuals present. I can’t help but notice Danni’s grotesque skull ring instead because it keeps drawing my attention away. Emma isn’t feeling great, so she steps outside for a smoke with Daisy. Oh, the irony, as Daisy suggests she shouldn’t dwell on things, and Emma recognizes that worrying only makes it worse. She leaves to sit by the roadside, which appears rather dreary. Overwhelmed and lightheaded, Emma decides to return to the boat. To the others, Daisy attributes her condition to heat exhaustion, tactfully omitting any mention of emotional distress.

At the bar, Danni desires nothing more than to dance, while Keith prefers conversation. He inquires about her frosty behavior towards him, and she admits that their fun moments always seem to be on his schedule. She’s frustrated because he refuses to engage in playful banter at a cliff during sunset due to guests. Keith insists they are there for work, and he isn’t comfortable disregarding it with colleagues he barely knows. Danni casually indicates she will continue living her life. As the scene transitions to a commercial break, we see a foreboding shot of the bar’s neon sign: “Trust me, you can dance – Tequila.

Afterward, I admire Keith and his crew – Emma, Davide – for their work on the interior. However, Danni seems less than thrilled about the work chat, opting instead to dance with Gary in a rather unconventional play fight. She declares this as the best party yet, but I can’t help but notice that the dance floor is deserted at 2 AM, probably on a Tuesday night. As Gary tosses Danni over his shoulder, Cloyce shares with Keith that he’s picking up some positive vibes from Daisy. I sense a romantic spark there, though I can’t help but cringe at the thought. Later, there’s a scene of them on a boat, laughing and hugging, which doesn’t sit well with me.

While driving back home, Keith admits that his evening didn’t go well, and he seeks comfort by resting on Daisy’s lap. She gently runs her fingers through his hair, assuring him there’s nothing to be ashamed of for being emotional. However, in an interview, Daisy expresses that Keith would be a wonderful companion, but she seems indifferent due to him being overly kind. Keith truly deserves more suitable companionship.

In the other vehicle, Danni playfully chokes Gary (or perhaps it was sincere, as he turned quite red), hinting at a potential kiss. Meanwhile, everyone else retires for the night, but Danni and Gary stay awake, heading towards their hot tub. A group leaps from the dock into the water, which prompts Gary to propose they do the same. This is an interaction that Danni has been yearning for. In the water, they finally share a kiss. This unexpected first kiss on the fifth episode of “Sailing Yacht” comes unusually late in the series. Fortunately, the scene ends there, so we don’t have to witness any overt affection. However, I’m not eagerly anticipating its replay or exploring what happens next week.

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2024-11-05 20:54