Below Decks Ben Is Insubordinate To Captain Kerry Over Cabin Inspections

Ben Willoughby‘s decision to be insubordinate to Captain Kerry Titheradge over cabin inspections on Below Deck did not go over well — at all.

During the Monday, May 20, episode of Below Deck, Ben questioned Kerry’s authority multiple times throughout their final charter.

“It is like Captain Kerry has got his knickers in a knot. It is the last charter. It is like, ‘Come on, Captain. Just calm out,'” Ben told the reporters. “I just feel like I have to bite my tongue right to the end and say, ‘Yes, sir’ just to get on with it. It’s a tad annoying.”

The bosun wasn’t pleased with how many complaints he received from Kerry, adding, “He’s just micromanaging galore. I’m weary of it. I don’t give a f—k if he’s Captain or God. I can’t f—king win.”

After Kerry made multiple remarks about errors with the anchor drop and keeping the exterior of the boat tidy, Ben voiced out his grievances on screen.

“I sort of categorize Captain Kerry as military. There’s no traffic cones to say, ‘Caution ahead.’ It just descends and you are in the s—t,” he added. “It is not the military, mate. It is a gory superyacht. I am weary of it.”

Kerry, meanwhile, argued that the interior and exterior personnel shouldn’t be easing off. “I am getting really annoyed today. I am f—king dumbfounded. It is not the first day, they know what is expected of them,” he said in a confessional. “It is like, ‘Where is this coming from? Why aren’t you doing your job?’ This is just absurd. I am pissed.”

As a means to keep everyone in control, Kerry announced cabin inspections on the second to last day. Below Deck viewers might not be used to seeing cabin inspections on the program but Kerry explained that it was a common practice in the yachting industry.

“We have standards that need to be upheld throughout the boat. Standards of sanitation, tidiness and we are now due to do cabin inspections. To make sure there are no fire hazards and make sure the emergency escapes aren’t blocked,” he detailed. “It is part of health and safety that we do this. I don’t care if it is the last two days of charter. You are only as excellent as your last day, no excuses.”

The crew had an entire workday’s notice about the examinations. While most of the crew found time to clean their cabins, Ben and deckhand Kyle Stillie made it plain they wouldn’t be participating in the captain’s command.

“Well, what is he going to do? Fire us? I don’t care. I couldn’t give a f—k right now,” Ben fired back. “Can’t you see the bigger picture that we are busting our ass? The charter visitors are our primary priority and focus. Give us a f—king break.”

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Despite Ben asserting he had too much on his schedule, production showed him fooling off with Sunny Marquis instead of tidying his room. Fraser Olender was the only one who appeared thrilled by the prospect of Kerry investigating his personal space.

“As a yachtie, cabin checks can be weekly or can be twice a month, or can be monthly. But they do happen and they are very important,” the chief steward explained to the cameras before joking, “It demonstrates how you respect your vessel. So, remain orderly and have some decorum, you swines.”

Kerry subsequently awarded Fraser’s room a 10 out of 10 score. Dylan Pierre De Villiers and Nick Tatlock earned a 7 for their endeavor, while Paris Field and Xandi Olivier‘s room received a 9 out of 10. Barbie Pascual and Sunny also scored a 7 but it wasn’t until Kerry got to Ben and Kyle’s room that he was stunned.

“What the hell is going on here? Like they didn’t even take it seriously?” he asked. “There was no attempt to make it clean. It is like an explosion has gone off. It is f—king disrespectful. I’m f—king beside myself.”

In a confessional, Kerry addressed why Ben and Kyle’s insubordination affected him so much.

“I am very old school. There is hierarchy. You don’t have to comprehend why a superior makes a decision. You just go do what you are asked to do,” he pointed out. “There’s no bigger ‘f—k you’ to a captain than to go against what he says.”

Kerry summoned both Ben and Kyle to the bridge to figure out what happened. Ben’s defense was simply that they were “working” and unable to find the time to sanitize their space.

“It wasn’t like you are just a little messy. It was just f—king disrespectful. Every single individual on this boat went to their cabin,” Kerry countered. “You are the f—king bosun, mate. It is f—king blatant disrespect. I’ve shown both of you gentlemen reverence. I’ve been out there working my f—king ass to assist you people out. And this is the way you say f—king thank you? It is beyond words.”