On Below Deck, Kate Chastain and Captain Lee Rosbach worked side by side for years. Viewers watched them handle chaos together, from demanding guests to crew drama that never seemed to stop.
Kate brought sharp humor and blunt honesty to her role as chief stew, often breaking the tension with a quick line or even just a look. Captain Lee, running the deck, carried authority and experience. He could keep things steady, but he also let his temper flare when mistakes piled up. That mix of her wit and his fire gave the show some of its most memorable moments, and it turned their working relationship into a friendship fans never forgot.
These days, though, things have shifted. Kate recently admitted that she and Captain Lee are no longer in touch, a sad update for viewers who loved seeing them together.
Kate Chastain wishes Below Deck alum Captain Lee all the best
Kate recently gave an honest update to Us Weekly. “I moved away from Fort Lauderdale and obviously we don’t work on boats together anymore,” she explained.
She went on to say they have not spoken in a while. “But he was always such a big part of my life that we’ve lost touch a little bit,” she said. “But I wish him very well.”
Their friendship started back in season 2, when Kate joined the crew. They worked together until she left in 2020. Lee stayed longer, exiting in 2023, and the two even reunited for Couch Talk With Captain Lee and Kate, which ran for one season.
When health issues forced Lee to take a break during his final year, Captain Sandy Yawn filled in. Later, Captain Kerry Titheradge became his replacement. Lee later questioned Sandy’s leadership style, but Kate took a softer view. “I think that Sandy is a really talented captain. She always has been. I think she drives the boat the best out of any captain in any Below Deck franchise,” Kate told Us in June 2024. “I don’t think that any of Lee’s criticisms of her were necessarily fair [or] warranted.”
Kate made it clear she avoids taking sides. “Just like with any other friends, I’m not going to take sides or end a friendship if that’s not how I feel,” she said.
She has stayed close with Sandy, even attending her 2024 wedding to Leah Shafer. Kate also shared her dream Below Deck lineup, naming Sandy, Chef Ben Robinson, and chief stews Fraser Olender, Daisy Kelliher, and Aesha Scott. “Let’s bring Fraser and Daisy and Aesha, and let’s have the four of us do it,” she joked, adding she would happily take laundry duty.
Kate and Lee may not talk anymore, but their years together left a lasting mark on Below Deck and gave fans plenty of memories.
Below Deck streams on Peacock. Viewers in the U.K. and Ireland can watch it on Hayu.
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