Captain Sandy’s Journey to Sobriety Through Yachting

Captain Sandy Yawn, a familiar face from the Below Deck franchise, revealed how her experience in the yachting industry played a significant role in her journey towards sobriety.

Captain Sandy Yawn, a veteran in the yachting industry, has made appearances on numerous Below Deck franchise shows and has openly shared her journey to sobriety.

In the Bravo web series At the Helm, Captain Sandy recounted a motivating tale about the beginnings of her yachting career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FfW1Pjbg9E

At the age of 13, I began washing boats and soon found myself getting into trouble and struggling with addiction. However, after becoming sober in 1989, my first job in 1990 was working on a boat, as shared by Captain Sandy.

After that, I was given an opportunity by a man who recognized my strong desire to work in the industry and my dedication as a hard worker. He provided me with a start by sending me to sea school.

The star of Below Deck Mediterranean started at the bottom, scraping barnacles off boats. However, she eventually worked her way up to become a captain.

Captain Sandy attributed her ability to stay sober and build a lasting legacy to the support of the yachting industry and the opportunities presented by the show.

She stated, “Due to the overwhelming number of messages we receive from viewers asking how to break into the industry, I have established a charity associated with the TV show.”

“I was also the child who was caught in the cycle of drug and alcohol addiction. As a result, I was unable to find employment. However, the Maritime industry gave me a chance and ultimately saved my life. This is the true legacy that I leave behind.”

As the first female captain in the Below Deck franchise, Captain Sandy has made history. She has also remained committed to supporting and empowering other crew members, particularly women, in their roles.