Below Deck Sailing Yacht Recap: To Plate or Not to Plate

As a seasoned observer of human dynamics, I must say that the cast aboard this yacht is as diverse as a box of assorted chocolates – each with their own unique flavor.


This week’s episode picks up with Danni and Gary locked in a passionate kiss in the water. If I didn’t have such strong feelings against their relationship, I would be impressed by their skill to keep kissing while treading water. However, Gary only makes this situation more distasteful when he refers to Danni as more of a little sister during an interview. When prompted further by the off-screen producer, he admits that alcohol played a significant role. Clearly, he hasn’t learned from his past indiscretions. Interestingly enough, Danni doesn’t view it as a mistake and would kiss him again. She has lost hope in Keith because he failed to respond to her advances. It appears she even desires a goodnight peck from Gary as they part ways, but he maintains a platonic distance.

In the morning, Danni chooses to remain silent about the kiss she shared. Gary compliments her, saying she appears as radiant as a daisy. It seems every woman reminds him of Daisy! Now, regarding Daisy, Gary admits he kissed Danni, and she promptly labels it a mistake. Intriguingly, Daisy clarifies that Danni is 11 years younger than him. She suggests he was seeking validation in this action. At this point, Gary dismisses Daisy as crazy and ends the conversation. So, what did he anticipate from this dialogue? Perhaps he thought Daisy would become jealous and declare her unwavering affection for him – ironically, that’s precisely what he desired.

It doesn’t take long for Danni to reveal her secret. She shares it with Diana, who envies Danni’s confidence and wishes she could be more like her. Meanwhile, Keith updates Emma about the night out that he missed. During this event, Keith believes he and Danni had a significant conversation. He is considering taking a chance with her, aiming to become less rigid in his beliefs, but it seems the timing couldn’t be worse – as if this romantic drama were straight out of a romantic comedy.

Beyond the notable kiss, the ongoing crew problems – Emma’s lack of effort, Cloyce failing to step up, and the stews’ poor attitudes – persistently bubble beneath the surface. Gary requests Emma to clean the boat’s side, and she proposes Keith do it as he has a longer reach. However, Gary calls her bluff – he is actually shorter than Emma and can handle the task himself. Emma admits her fear of falling in due to clumsiness. Nonetheless, Keith, always a team player, takes on the job. On Watch What Happens Live, I was taken aback when Glenn named Danni as the MVP instead of Keith, although he did acknowledge Keith’s potential for leadership.

The new primary is Andrew, the CEO of a dental group, bringing seven friends who are almost all dentists. Davide is weirdly excited about the idea of hot dentists because his dentist is his sister’s boyfriend. I was ready to make a David(e) After Dentist joke, but a small, normal interaction with the guests while sailing is his only contribution to the episode. Davide, we hardly knew ye.

Two attendees, MC and Chris, have recently become engaged, prompting Andrew to suggest a toast after dinner with “dessert shots or similar” to honor them. I can’t help but ponder how fresh the engagement news actually is and if this is reminiscent of those who exaggerate their birthdays when dining out. Daisy forwards the suggestion to Cloyce, whose mindset is currently at its lowest due to a hangover. The dinner isn’t scheduled until 10 p.m., so he opts for an afternoon siesta, thus highlighting his less-than-ideal time management skills.

The evening’s ambiance is a blend of blue and white tones. Danni manages to decorate without any stressful incidents, while Diana encounters difficulties. In the midst of preparing blue salt for margaritas, one guest hands her a stained dress. Danni declines help, so Diana takes the dress to the laundry room and removes the stain on her own. The drama in the laundry room brings a sense of excitement again after experiencing it frequently with Bri on Mediterranean! Diana becomes irritated as she can hear Danni laughing among the crew members. Danni asks Diana to take a sunset photo together, but Diana expresses frustration, feeling like she’s the only one working. This doesn’t sit well, but I believe it’s better to openly share feelings instead of harboring resentment, although Diana could improve her tone. Later, Danni tries discussing gossip with Daisy, claiming she’s apprehensive about Diana. Daisy advises her to act with more maturity. Once more, I agree that this is the correct mindset, but the execution leaves room for improvement.

Instead of donning black attire for the evening, the stews opt for coral dresses, finding blacks rather unappealing and not as luxurious. Cloyce is serving family-style dishes again, a decision Daisy cautions against but to no avail. She feels that he should take her suggestions more seriously. He believes his “twist on a Caesar salad” will suffice, though he neglects to clarify the twist to the guests. This results in the dish appearing and tasting like an ordinary Caesar salad, leaving both us and the guests perplexed. The presentation of the “seafood party” family-style disappoints Cecilia, the primary’s wife. Daisy echoes her dissatisfaction to her companions so frequently that they eventually grow tired of hearing it throughout the night.

When Glenn queries about dinner, there’s an awkward silence before they respond it was delicious. Is this a criticism of Cloyce, or is it due to editing or jet lag? Cloyce isn’t winning praise with dessert. The dishes have been cleared, and he’s still playing with chocolate sauce on a plate. Gary believes now’s the right moment for him to apologize to Daisy, and they actually do have enough time to make amends because Cloyce can’t fit a congratulatory message on the first plate he tries. Meanwhile, the engaged couple is about to retire, forcing other guests to reveal their secret and advise them to stay up. Twenty-eight minutes late, Cloyce presents dessert, knowing it’s not his finest creation. The chocolate sauce doesn’t seem to match with the coconut cake served in glasses. I don’t want to be harsh, but the blue frosting looks like something you’d find on a generic store-bought cookie.

Tonight, it’s once again Emma’s turn for the night shift. I can’t help but worry that she might doze off, but my concern quickly fades as I notice her getting distracted by her phone and losing track of time. When Keith arrives to relieve her, she puts on a show of being surprised, something any of us would probably try in her situation. However, she hasn’t finished her tasks because water has accumulated near a drain hole (a scupper). She offers to help Keith with the swim platform but instead stands there observing him. Her patience is running thin, and he ends up reporting all this to Gary. The two of them feel they need to tread carefully around Emma. It seems that Emma’s situation isn’t improving, and her go-to phrase is now “I don’t know what to tell you.

In the ship’s dining area, Danni attempts to flirt with Gary during breakfast by hinting at cuddling. However, Gary tactfully puts an end to any potential romantic advancements between them after their previous kiss. He’s made it clear he doesn’t want a repeat. For now, Gary, you’ve done well to resist, but I won’t truly believe it until I see it when you’re under the influence. Upstairs, Diana inquires about Keith’s encounter with Danni on their last night out. It’s possible that Diana has feelings for Keith or she’s merely holding a grudge against Danni for not providing more assistance. Whatever her true intentions, Diana reveals to him that Danni kissed Gary. This piece of news is like a heavy blow to poor Keith. With this information shared, Diana departs with a casual “Oops.

it’s not bad enough for the guests to complain, but it’s also not particularly special. She plans to have one more talk with the chef before Glenn intervenes.

In the conversation, Daisy expresses her criticism in a roundabout manner using many “I think” statements and informs Cloyse that visitors anticipate a ‘wow factor.’ However, Cloyce disagrees, suggesting some aspects are inherently rural. I found this explanation rather illogical. Cloyce then asserts that his abilities have never been challenged in the way they are now throughout his charter career. Once more, Daisy presents hard data: her experience spans 11 years compared to his two. She feels her lengthy tenure deserves recognition. Will Cloyce eventually appreciate his elders? This situation, coupled with the dynamic between Danni and Keith, is finally becoming intriguing.

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2024-11-13 00:54