Captain Sandy Yawn's Favorite Below Deck Med Crew Member Might Not Be Who You Think

Captain Sandy Yawn runs a tight ship on "Below Deck Med," and she has worked hard to prove herself as a capable captain in the maritime industry, which is dominated by men. She was even asked to step up and fill in for Bravo's OG veteran of the high seas, Captain Lee Rosbach, when he needed a replacement on "Below Deck," per People. But while she might excel in her field, sometimes fans of her show don't agree with the moves she makes in regard to her shipmates. She's also risked the ire of her crew by sharing her personal feelings about them.

In a 2020 interview with Vanity Fair, Yawn defended her decision to fire Hannah Ferrier. Yawn explained that she didn't feel like she could trust the fan-favorite chief stew after she was reported for having undeclared drugs on board their yacht. "I don't not like her," said Yawn. "But is she someone I would ever hire on a boat? Not at all." She also expressed her displeasure over Kyle Viljoen kissing a charter guest, telling Us Weekly that such behavior is unprofessional in the workplace, even if it is a luxury yacht. She is, however, totally cool with her crew pursuing relationships with guests when they're not on the clock.

You might think that a strong work ethic and a passion to learn would be the way to become captain's pet on "Below Deck Med," but according to Yawn, the way to her heart is through her palate.

Captain Sandy Yawn gives credit where credit is due when it comes to her crew members' efforts to keep everything running smoothly on her ship. She was especially impressed with bosun Malia White's ambition. "She really wants to be a captain," Yawn told Vanity Fair in 2020. "The cool thing about her is she left, after filming, and went to work on boats. I'm just in awe." White didn't return for Season 7 of "Below Deck Med" in 2022, but on "Watch What Happens Live," Yawn was still one of her biggest cheerleaders. "She's awesome," she said (via The Daily Dish).

Yawn had to acquaint herself with a new crew, and one of them ended up being one of her favorite people she's ever worked with. On "Watch What Happens Live," she was asked to reveal which crew member she likes best. "I don't have a favorite, but I can tell you who my favorite chef is ... it's Dave [White] this season. He's unbelievable," she said (via The Daily Dish). For the record, Yawn's most disliked "Below Deck Med" crew member is also a chef.

Yawn previously sang Dave's praises on the show, saying, "Dave is like no other chef I've ever had on the planet. He is the true artist. It's incredible to witness this guy at work," per Bravo. One of his many impressive feats was getting guests who did not like fish to become full-blown seafood lovers.

Aside from his talent in the kitchen, it's not hard to see why Captain Sandy Yawn is a fan of Dave White. He's also a hard worker who cares deeply about his craft, telling Mashed that he got his start in the kitchen as a dish washer before working his way up to landing a culinary apprenticeship. But how does the chef feel about his captain?

Speaking to Decider, White said that he appreciates how Yawn doesn't try to micromanage him and he praised her for being the type of person who is willing to give people another shot when they make a mistake, like when he sent hurtful text messages to chief stew Natasha Webb. "Captain Sandy is awesome. I love her to bits. I've worked with some incredible captains, and she's up there," said White. "She doesn't give up on people and that's a real skill."

White might be a top chef in the maritime world, but Yawn will have to compete with the adventurous Sussex native's other ambitions if she wants to keep him cooking in her tiny yacht kitchen. White owns a restaurant called Method Kitchen in France, and he's a thrill-seeker who enjoys outdoor hobbies that really get the adrenaline pumping, including skiing and skydiving. He also told SussexLive that he plans to climb Mount Everest — just do not ask him to whip up a batch of pancakes.