Sorry, ladies with unrealistic marital dreams. As we have recently learned, Captain Kerry Titheradge has a girlfriend. While Below Deck Season 12 progresses, Captain Kerry is spilling little details about his beloved, Ghönül Bihan, here and there. So, this got us curious about all things Ghönül, because anyone that this stellar Captain loves, fans love as well (unless she hurts him).
The story of how they came to be is an interesting one, which might raise a few eyebrows. Working in their favor, however, is the fact that Human Resources looks a bit different on yachts. And yes, I will explain what this means momentarily. But first, let us review who Ghönül is, and then we will break down the love story of how Captain Kerry and his leading lady, Ghönül, came to be.
Who is Below Deck star Captain Kerry’s girlfriend Ghönül Bihan?
Ghönül is a mostly private lady on social media. However, her Threads account is open (for now). So, I spent some time on this page. But all that I learned about Ghönül, from her very few interactions on this account, is that she loves and supports her man, Captain Kerry.
Nevertheless, Captain Kerry has spoken about Ghönül on two different seasons of Below Deck. So, we know a few things about her now, thanks to his lovesick loose lips. For example, during Below Deck Season 11 Episode 3, Captain Kerry revealed that he had “an amazing woman in my life, her name is Gönül. She is from Turkey,” he added, noting that they have “been together for three years,” and he adores her greatly.
Then, Captain Kerry FaceTimed her while he was eating his dinner in the crew mess. This episode marked her debut on Below Deck. During this call, Captain Kerry, who is learning the native tongue of his love, called Gönül a “beautiful girl” in Turkish. Then, he turned to the camera afterward, joking, “I’m not a single captain. I’m sorry, ladies.”
Captain Kerry met his girlfriend when he was still married
Moving forward to Below Deck Season 12 Episode 4, Captain Kerry revealed that Gönül also worked in the yachting industry. Wildly, she was on his yacht.
As Captain Kerry explained, “She worked for me when I was married. A few years later, I said, ‘How about we go out for dinner?’” As for when they came to be a couple, Captain Kerry shared that they “worked together quite a few years ago. She was the chief stew,” while he was the Captain, he said.
Funnily enough, Gönül was not a fan of his leadership. “She quit after a few months because she didn’t like the way I ran a boat,” he laughed. Luckily for Captain Kerry, Gönül still liked him as a person. So, she accepted his request for dinner, and the rest is now history.
But when they are both working, their relationship is tricky to manage. “My girlfriend, they get one day off a week [on their boat],” Captain Kerry explained during Season 12. And on this day, they do their best to play catch-up over the phone, he ended.
Captain Kerry found love after his divorce with his girlfriend
Before Gönül, there was Jennifer, the now ex-wife of Captain Kerry. As he explained in Season 11, “I was married, and then that ended. It wasn’t good. I was running a 300-foot yacht. Gave it all up for my kids.”
Wanting to be present for his son and daughter during this period of transition, Captain Kerry momentarily walked away from his gig on yachts and picked up a paintbrush instead. “I went from being a captain of a multi-million dollar yacht to painting houses,” he said in one of his confessionals. “I went and did a job that I could focus on myself — put my earbuds in, listen to self-help work. [And] I was there for my kids every day.”
Later, Captain Kerry remembered his old Chief Stew, Gönül. And when he reached out, she said yes to his idea of a date. “I think her hearing’s getting worse and her eyesight’s getting bad,” he joked. “Because she still thinks I’m beautiful, and she wants to be with [me].”
Things are now getting serious for the pair. “I would like to ask her mother for her hand in marriage,” he disclosed during Season 11. “And the way I’m gonna do that is [by learning] Turkish.”
Following the first episode of Below Deck Season 11, Gönül appeared in the audience to watch her man shine on Watch What Happens Live. While looking from the stage towards his woman, Captain Kerry addressed Gönül as the “love of my life.”
Below Deck is streaming on Peacock. In the UK and Ireland, Below Deck streams on Hayu.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK CAPTAIN KERRY AND GÖNÜL WILL TIE THE KNOT?
