Hugo Ortega joined Below Deck Season 12 midway through the season. This Bosun came complete with experience, a levelheaded disposition, and drama-free storylines. Off air, his presence is just as solid, as Hugo is using his platform to speak out about changes that need to happen in the yachting industry. We must protect him at all costs.
So, now that this well-versed man has joined the crew of Below Deck Season 12, we knew we needed to get him on the line to hear his takes on several important (and non-important) details regarding his work in this industry. Here is everything Hugo had to say.
Hugo Ortega says their disaster Below Deck guest “hated” Captain Kerry
Below Deck Season 12 is currently experiencing a cliffhanger moment. An unruly, drunk charter guest named Kelly is refusing to follow orders that are directly related to her safety. Now, she either has to leave the yacht peacefully, or the police will escort her away in cuffs and take her to jail. On a recent episode of Watch What Happens Live, Hugo revealed that he had the pleasure of driving Kelly back to the dock, and this is what she had to say during their commute (of shame).
“She was yelling all kinds of obscenities about Captain Kerry [Titheradge]. I think she focused on him because he’s the one who, quote unquote, got her off the boat, even though it was her behavior,” Hugo accurately explained. Nevertheless, “she was swearing up and down about him and how she hated him.”
Gacious, right? In contrast, did Hugo sense any remorse in Kelly?
“I don’t think so. By the end of it, Kelly only seemed embarrassed. She didn’t say bye or make eye contact. She just shuffled away on the dock.”
How does Below Deck differ from a typical yacht season?
Hugo has worked in this industry for over a decade. He also offers training courses for individuals interested in this line of work. Ask him anything, he implored, as, regardless of your experience, there is a space for you in this industry. But, how does a Below Deck experience compare to a typical gig on unfilmed yachts?
“It’s funny because that was the same thing I was thinking when I was first joining Below Deck, wondering how much of it is quote-unquote yachting and how much is going to be different. What I found is that it’s very much the same. Yes, the clientele is different, and I’ve got less experienced crew on me sometimes, but for the most part, it’s just as weird. It’s just as high-paced, and it’s just as messy.”
Hugo noted here that he has worked on many yachts throughout his career. And on these yachts, there have been many times where the crew has “sat back and thought, man, this could have been on Below Deck. So, it’s not like normal yachting is devoid of any drama, I promise,” he stressed.
Bosun Hugo teases the rest of Below Deck Season 12
What can Hugo tease about the second half of Below Deck Season 12? A lot. With a side of a little.
“I can say it’s going to continue getting messier and messier. And as we all know, we’re all wondering, well, did Kyle [Stillie] move on from Solène [Favreau] with a charter guest? Did he not? You have to stand by to watch,” Hugo teased.
This storyline has yet to air on Bravo. However, the trailers the network has released so far regarding this upcoming did-he-or-not narrative are teasing that this will be one of the main plot lines for Below Deck Season 12.
Either way, this season is only getting started, Hugo said. “Just when you thought it couldn’t get any messier, it does. You’re in for a treat. If you think it’s messy now at the villa, it’s going to get even messier,” Hugo noted, not giving any further details away.
He also stated that he grew close to Jess Theron and Bárbara Kulaif this season. “She reminds me of my mother a lot,” Hugo said of Bárbara, who, like him, is from a Latin background.
How Hugo would deal with predators in the yachting industry
Regretably, some yachties, both on Bravo and off, exhibit predatory behaviors, which inadequate protocols have failed to address. Online, Hugo shared a horrific story about a stewardess named Paige Bell. She lost her life on a yacht, and the engineer responsible is now behind bars. How can changes be made so that all yachties are safe in their far away workplaces?
“What I think we need is a neutral third party that we can talk to, some agency that that’s what they do, right? They follow up and show reports on which yachts are troublesome or not. Or, maybe, we need a registry that you can use to look up and see reports regarding foul play” on each vessel, Hugo answered, noting that this way, no predator can hide behind their management companies or the private owners, who sometimes choose to look the other way.
Regardless, on yachts, “it is in everyone’s interest to make sure these things disappear quickly and swiftly. So, I think having an agency that can police things, that doesn’t have any loyalty to anyone in particular, except just justice and following the law, that would be a really, really good step in the right direction.”
Below Deck is streaming on Peacock. In the UK and Ireland, Below Deck streams on Hayu.
TELL US – ARE YOU LOVING HUGO ON BELOW DECK? WHAT MESSIER EVENTS DO YOU THINK WILL TRANSPIRE THIS SEASON? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HUGO’S SAFETY IDEAS INCORPORATED INTO YACHTING, BOTH ON BRAVO AND OFF?
