Everything You Always Wanted To Know
Joshua Smith
Founder and Editor at Cruising Freedom
This is the definitive guide on Captain Sandy from Below Deck for 2023.
Over the last several years, I have spent many hours watching and researching everything I could about Below Deck stars to learn more about their stories.
(Yes, I really am *that* obsessed with Sandy Yawn 😃)
If you wanted to know:
➜ How Captain Sandy became famous
➜ How much she makes on Below Deck
➜ Who her ex-husband and children are
➜ Who her new partner is (hint: it’s a woman!)
➜ How you can start crossing oceans
Then you’ve definitely come to the right place.
Before we start, a quick introduction from me…
The Cruising Freedom Author
Ahoy, Matey! I’m Joshua from Australia.
I’ve built the perfect business to sail the world.
A business model which can allow me to:
➜ Own a catamaran debt-free
➜ Go for weeks without WIFI
➜ Create semi-passive income
➜ Inspire others to dream big
But more on that later… 🙂
Captain Sandy Below Deck FAQs (April 2023)
Boat Name
St. Marten
Real Name
Sandra Yawn (age 48)
Ex-Husband
In years prior, Sandy was married to Ross Shafer who is a motivational speaker. They were married for 2 decades before they called it off.
Daughter
Captain Sandy’s daughter is Lauren Rae Yawn who is now 17 years old and has become popular on social media.
She isn’t Sandy’s biological daughter as Sandy and Ross adopted Lauren Rae back in 2006.
New Partner
Captain Sandra Yawn is not married at this time, but is currently dating Leah Shafer. So yes, she is lesbian.
The couple has defined their relationship as having a strong spiritual connection. At times, Leah does come sailing with Sandy but isn’t really seen on reality TV.
Leah is a musician and has released numerous albums.
The Boat
Captain Sandy has been on several vessels.
Location
She lives in Colorado but currently is in currently cruising in the Caribbean.
Past Cruising
Sandy has cruised in:
➜ The Mediterranean
➜ The Caribbean
➜ The Atlantic
➜ The Bahamas
And she’ll probably come to Australia soon!
Cruising Career
Sandy has been a yacht captain for the past 10+ years.
She started as a stewardess and in her spare time, trained to become a captain. She wanted to build a remarkable maritime career and keep her crew in check.
She’s no actress. Her personality is similar to many yacht captains when faced with challenges and an under-performing crew.
Net Worth
You’d be surprised by how wealthy she is!
As of 2023, Captain Sandy Yawn from Below Deck has a net worth of $5,700,000 USD.
This is based on the value of her luxury mansion and real estate portfolio. So yes, she is a multi-millionaire!
Making Loot
Everyone is curious as to how much she is paid…
Generally speaking, Captain Sandy Yawn is paid $200,000 per season as a yacht captain, plus an additional $170,000 through her Below Deck contract.
She is already financially free and doesn’t really need the money, so it’s just pocket money for her.
Big Moments
Sandy has had some interesting moments over the years:
➜ She has fired Hannah, Mila, Alissa and Camille
➜ She’s taken over for Captain Lee on numerous occasions
➜ She has dealt with the threat of pirates
➜ She has become angry on numerous occasions (which she’s ultimately known for!)
And I can’t wait to see more controversy and gossip this season!
Future Plans
Is Sandy going to retire? After all, she has made more than enough money from the show and her maritime career.
Because of her popularity, she earns 2-3 times more than a typical yacht captain and has earned a ton of respect too.
I genuinely believe that she just loves her career.
Key Takeaways
What can we learn from her cruising journey?
➜ Stay focused and humble
➜ Captain’s orders are absolute
➜ Don’t get on her bad side
➜ Start working your way up the ladder
And be willing to call things out as they are.
Conclusion
Captain Sandy and her drama have gone viral on many occasions. She’s being herself on the show and expects high standards of her crew.
I’m excited to see how the next season plays out!
Create Your Own Cruising Freedom
Hey! 😃 it’s Joshua again…
I’ve been very inspired by Captain Sandy and her maritime career…
Some say I’m obsessed, but sailing the world is my childhood dream.
Her and her crew are living the dream, but that dream is available to many.
I mentioned earlier about discovering the #1 cruising business model.
With this exciting opportunity, I’ll be able to:
➜ Generate a sustainable full-time income through learning basic skills
➜ Fund the purchase of my first sailing catamaran without any loans
➜ Do it without selling to friends and family (I found a better solution!)
➜ Share my lifetime passion for sailing, cruising and global adventures
Keen to discover more? Jump on the free training right now. 👨🏻💻
(I share more about it on the next page…🙂)