Why Is Captain Lee Rosbach Leaving ‘Below Deck’ — Who Will Be His Replacement?

There have been guesses of who to replace Captain Lee Rosbach now that he is leaving ‘Below Deck’.

Ahoy, mateys — Season 10 of Below Deck premiered on Nov. 21, 2022, and included a boatload of drama among the guests and crew from the jump. While there have been the typical hookups and disagreements among the crew, a more shocking reveal came just four episodes into the landmark season.

During the season’s fourth episode, Below Deck’s original captain and “stud of the sea,” Captain Lee Rosbach, shared that he would be stepping away for good. The devastating news has fans wondering why Captain Lee is leaving Below Deck and who will be his replacement moving forward. Fortunately, we’ve got the answers, so keep scrolling to find out!

Captain Lee Rosbach is leaving 'Below Deck' after 10 seasons.
Captain Lee Rosbach is leaving ‘Below Deck’ after 10 seasons.
SOURCE: BRAVO

Who is Captain Lee’s replacement?

Captain Lee returned to Below Deck for Season 10 while dealing with ongoing health issues. According to People, the show’s leader suffered an injury that caused nerve issues on the left side of his body.

Initially, Captain Lee didn’t worry his crew about his condition but explained in a confessional in Episode 4 that he couldn’t “feel anything” and was upset by the fact he couldn’t do “a goddamn thing” about his prognosis. Later in the episode, he spoke to chef Rachel Hargrove about his illness.

“This has probably been one of the most humbling experiences of my life,” Captain Lee says.

Captain Lee Rosbach attending BravoCon in October 2022.
Captain Lee Rosbach attending BravoCon in October 2022.
SOURCE: BRAVO

Eventually, Captain Lee’s pain became too much to handle. In the episode’s final moments, he gathered his crew for an all-hands meeting to inform them that he had decided to leave their yacht, St. David, and would also be leaving Below Deck.

“As you guys know, I’ve been struggling with my mobility, and it’s been hard,” Captain Lee admits. “And I’ve let you guys down, and for that, I apologize. So I’ve made a decision to leave the boat.”

The shocking announcement came at the end of the episode, but fans continued sharing their feelings about Captain Lee’s exit on social media. Many Twitter users were sad to see him go, and admitted to “sobbing” over the idea of his not being on Below Deck in future episodes.

In true social media fashion, fans began theorizing about who Captain Lee’s replacement will be. Although Bravo hasn’t announced an official replacement yet, fans have predicted that Captain Sandy Yawn from Below Deck Mediterranean could replace Captain Lee.

However, Sandy hasn’t been everyone’s cup of tea, and one fan tweeted Andy Cohen directly and begged him not to choose the renowned captain. Other predictions have included Captain Jason Chambers from Below Deck Down Under, who stole several scenes with his good looks and charm.

Captain Lee stepped down from ‘Below Deck’ before because of his health.

While Captain Lee left Below Deck in Season 10, fans have been concerned for him since he spoke out about his health ahead of Season 9. In the Season 9 trailer in 2021, the captain explained that he had to join the show late due to a “condition.” Back then, he didn’t elaborate beyond assuring everyone it wasn’t COVID-19.

Unfortunately, the crew of the My Seanna went on without their beloved leader, and, unsurprisingly, tensions were running high from the beginning. In the trailer, we hear first officer Eddie Lucas say, “Come back to me, Captain Lee. Come back to me, my boat daddy.” The tension was mainly because Captain Lee’s replacement, Captain Sean Meagher, didn’t mesh well with the rest of the staff.

Captain Sean Meagher replaced Captain Lee Rosbach in 'Below Deck' Season 9.
Captain Sean Meagher replaced Captain Lee Rosbach in ‘Below Deck’ Season 9.
SOURCE: INSTAGRAM/@EXCITEMENTFACTORY

Captain Sean, who began working as a captain at age 18, stood out for his hands-on approach with the staff. Many of his crew members, especially Eddie, don’t agree with Captain Sean’s strategies. The audience apparently didn’t like Sean’s approach either, as many of them spoke negatively about the newcomer during Season 9.

“OMG, Captain Lee… Mayday, Mayday!!! The replacement captain is batsh** crazy!!!” one fan exclaimed on Twitter.

Thankfully, Bravo hasn’t booked Sean for future Below Deck episodes, so fans hopefully won’t see him again. As for Captain Lee’s Season 10 replacement, viewers must stay tuned!

Below Deck airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo.

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