What fans love about a show like Bravo’s Below Deck is that it feels a lot more authentic compared to other reality TV shows. The show features a captain and his crew sailing around some of the world’s most beautiful locations while catering to high-demand guests.

Now in its twelfth season, the show has seen its fair share of firings. Everyone has the risk of losing their job aboard a mega-yacht. Whether it’s a chef failing to deliver five-star meals, a bosun struggling with leadership, or a stew falling behind on interior duties, someone getting the boot has become a near-seasonal ritual.

Season 12 saw its first firing when Captain Kerry Titheradge made the right call to let go of his bosun, Caio Poltronieri. He wasted no time bringing aboard a new bosun named Hugo Ortega, whose years of experience appeared to be just what the deck team needed.

Below Deck Season 12 Sees A New Bosun On Deck Who Has The Right Leadership Qualities

Who Is Hugo Ortega?

Below Deck Season 12, Episode 6 saw Captain Kerry Titheradge make a tough but very necessary call by firing bosun Caio Poltronieri. After repeatedly witnessing Caio’s missteps, from poor communication during boat launches to inconsistent leadership and failing to give his deck team breaks, Captain Kerry had seen enough. And based on viewers reactions and even the exterior team, it was definitely the right move.

With Kerry having seen one too many mistakes with Caio, he made sure to have a backup plan ready just in case he did fire him. The episode showed Kerry calling a man named Hugo Ortega just two days before giving Caio the ax. During their phone conversation, Hugo promised that he could bring that leadership qualitiy that Caio was missing.

After Caio’s departure, Captain Kerry introduced the crew to their new bosun, Hugo. In a confessional, Hugo gave viewers a glimpse into his life and leadership style, one that stood in stark contrast to Caio’s. His structured and hands-on approach was exactly the reset the deck team needed.

“I grew up in the Bronx in a pretty religious household. My father’s from Honduras and my mother’s from Dominican Republic. They definitely had expectations of what they wanted me to do. But I always knew that I wanted to get out. When I first started yachting, it was like going from seeing in black and white and then you finally see in color.”

“I don’t like lax programs where there are no rules. At the end of the day, we’re here to do a job, and putting the boat first is the most important thing. Full stop.”

According to Bravo, Hugo brings a decade of experience in the yachting industry and takes his role as bosun seriously. Even when he’s off the boat, his commitment doesn’t waver. He shared that he enjoys recruiting and training yacht crew, proving his dedication to the industry goes well beyond deck duties.

With loads of experience working on bigger vessels, he also knows familiar faces from other Below Deck seasons, including Joao Franco and Malia White, who have also worked as bosuns.

How Does The Crew Aboard The St. David Feel About Their New Bosun?

The Deck Team Needed Someone Who They Could Rely On

Joining a vessel later in the season is never easy, crew bonds have already formed, and routines are well established. But Hugo’s arrival brought the kind of strong leadership that had been missing aboard the St. David during Caio’s time as bosun.

Deckhand Damo Yorg had a small issue with Hugo when he advised his deck team to put lids on their coffee cups so that there would be no accidents. While it was a small demand, Damo didn’t take it too kindly.

“I don’t really enjoy a leader that comes in and makes changes immediately. I’m still gonna wait to make any big decisions on whether or not this guy’s gonna be a pain in my ass or the savior of the deck team,” he told the cameras.

However, Hugo proved his worth as a member and leader of the deck team when he was tasked with communicating with Captain Kerry over the radio during the St. David having to clear a very narrow passageway. Kerry was impressed with his communication skills and how seamless the whole process was.

Even deckhand Kyle Stillie was happy about how things have changed with having a new bosun who actually knew what he was doing. “I feel so much more confident already with Hugo at the back here,” he said, adding, “I think that’s how a leader should be.”

Captain Kerry Fired Bosun Caio Poltronieri For His Many “Schoolboy Errors”

Caio Was Not A Capable Leader

Captain Kerry had grown tired of catching what he called “schoolboy errors” from bosun Caio. From mishandling launch and docking procedures to failing to schedule proper breaks for his deck team, and forgetting luggage during the very first charter, the list of issues continued to grow, ultimately leading to his firing.

In a confessional, Kerry shared, “I try to support my guys, but I have a lot of pressure on myself. I’ve gotta be straight up with the guy and let him know how important his job is and how much I rely on him. And that creates pressure. But there’s a lot of schoolboy errors being made on things he should be already aware of. He needs to get his head in the game.”

Captain Kerry called Caio onto the bridge to deliver the bad news. “I’ve really wanted you to succeed here. The thing is is we keep having these little errors that keep adding up. Each time I think that we got to a place of no more errors, we get another error, and the problem with that [is] I’m losing confidence in you,” he tells him.” He adds, “The expectations of the job on this boat and what I need, you’re not there yet. So, I gotta let you go, mate.”

Fans have yet to see everything Hugo brings to the table in his new position and if he’ll get along with his new team. However, from what he’s already shown, he’s poised to do the job well, and maybe even have some fun with his crew along the way.