Nicknamed the “Stud of the Sea,” Below Deck’s Captain Lee was on Bravo’s hit reality show for 10 seasons, and there is a lot to know about the OG. Below Deck premiered in 2013, and Captain Lee was a vital part in making the show as popular as it’s been. Captain Lee was last featured in the franchise as figurehead of the show in Below Deck season 10, which ran from November 2022 to March 2023. Due to health reasons that affected his back and mobility, Captain Lee left the season midway through.
He was replaced by Below Deck Med captain, Captain Sandy Yawn. He returned at the end of the season, however. Below Deck was then taken over by Below Deck Adventure captain, Captain Kerry Titheradge, who served as leader in Below Deck season 11, which aired from February to May 2024. Captain Lee became a popular reality star during his time in the franchise for his memorable one-liners, ability to keep his crew in line, and prowess to ensure safety and maritime laws were respected. He starred alongside many prominent Below Deck cast members, like Kate Chastain and Fraser Olender.
Captain Lee Rosbach’s Background
He Joined Yachting Later In Life
Harold Lee Rosbach was born in Michigan and worked as a restauranteur before getting into yachts at 35. His first time on a yacht, he became seasick, but apparently, that wasn’t enough to deter him from pursuing becoming a captain. He has been married to his wife Mary Anne for 50 years, and together they have 4 children and some grandchildren. Tragically one of his sons passed away in 2019.
While his career as a captain and star of a popular reality show paints a rosy picture, not everything has been smooth sailing for Captain Lee. In 2017, Captain Lee allegedly filed for bankruptcy and the media was quick to attack him, assuming he was recklessly living outside his means. As it turns out, he was the victim of identity theft, and someone had claimed bankruptcy in his name while he was off at sea. With a net worth of $800,000, it seems he is quite financially responsible.
Captain Lee Is Still A Bravolebrity
& Active In His Personal & Professional Endeavors
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Captain Lee wrote an autobiography in 2018, Running Against the Tide: True Tales from the Stud of the Sea. The book was well-received by readers and critics. Captain Lee remains active among his fan base and hosts a new show called Nightcap, which is premiering in the UK in October. It will be a one-man show in which Captain Lee will tell tales from his life at sea and dish on behind-the-scenes Below Deck moments.
Captain Lee also started a podcast in August 2023, Salty with Captain Lee, in which he hosts a weekly podcast session focusing on discussing Below Deck and entertainment news. It has a rating of 4.8 with Apple Podcasts and he is often joined by special guests.
“The notoriously cranky Captain and his co-host, Sam DeCavalcanti, along with their celebrity friends, will help listeners navigate the latest headlines, the hottest tea, and behind-the-scenes scoop from Below Deck and the entertainment world. No life jacket required.”
Captain Lee’s Below Deck Friendships
Some Are Rockier Than Others
Over his time in the Below Deck franchise, Captain Lee has become close with many of his crew members. Most notably, Captain Lee and six-season tenured Chief Stew Kate Chastain have remained close friends and enjoy their celebrity status together. On social media, Captain Lee gets a lot of comments on his posts from current and former Below Deck cast members who praise his humor, legacy, and professional endeavors.
Captain Lee also had a long-time friendship with Captain Sandy, although it has soured in recent years. The bitterness stemmed from Captain Lee being unapproving of Captain Sandy’s firing of Camille Lamb in Below Deck season 10. Captain Sandy’s fiancé got in the mix too and scolded Captain Lee for having any criticism.
From there, Captain Lee has not been invited to Captain Sandy’s wedding and they have friction over Captain Lee commenting on Captain Sandy’s hypocritical idea that the yacht chef should not be woken.
Captain Lee had a long run in the Below Deck franchise. He still appears at BravoCon and maintains a role in the entertainment spectrum of the show and in the reality TV world. While he may not be on the highly-praised show anymore, his presence lives on and fans remember him fondly.
