Photo: Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Below Deckis officially a man down afterCaptain Lee Rosbachsaid his final farewell to the Bravo hit after 10 “crazy” seasons.
Rosbach, 73, appeared in his final episode on the yachting show on Monday night. As another charter season wrapped up, the man affectionately known as the"Stud of the Sea"sprinkled in a few of his signature salty words of advice and reflected on the coda to his four-decade-long career in yachting.
“Being a captain and being out on the water, there’s just something kind of magical out there,” he said early in the episode. “It feels right, it’s kind of like Christmas morning.”
Season 10’s final charter guests were body builders, which hit close to home for Rosbach, who hit the gym every day for weeks in order to return to the ship afterhe had to temporarily step away due to health concerns.
But, despite his admiration for the guest’s commitment to physical fitness, he did draw a line when they asked the crew of motor yachtSt. Davidto star in their own body building show.
Rosbach — a self-professed “gym rat” — was not about to take off his shirt for the guests. As he quipped in an interview: “There is only so much lipstick you can put on this pig.”
The guests disembarked quickly since it was only a one-day charter, and with that Rosbach returned his ship to port one last time.
“When you’re coming to the dock, it’s kind of a bittersweet moment,” he acknowledged. “It’s your last docking — you sure as hell don’t want to f— that up.”
Captain Lee Rosbach.Laurent Bassett/Bravo
Taking stock of his time on the sea, he offered up his trademark humor. “Going on 40 years I’ve been a yacht captain, have I seen a lot of crazy s—?” he asked, before adding a wry laugh: “Is a 40-pound robin fat? Yeah.”
He continued over a montage of moments from the show that ranged from wacky to legitimatelylife-or-death: “Have I been in situations that I didn’t think I was gonna make it through? Oh yeah.”
But, he affirmed, “Deciding to become a yacht captain has been the best decision I have ever made in my life.”
And of this season in particular, he said, “I made a promise that I would come back.That’s a promise that I delivered. I want people to look at the job that I’ve done and go, ‘He set the bar high, and he kept it high.’ God d—, what a ride.”
“I don’t know what’s gonna happen in the future, but the ocean’s always gonna be part of me,” he concluded. “I’ve still got the best god d— job in the world.”
Captian Lee Rosbach.Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Rosbach was forced to exit motor yachtSt. Davidearly into filming forseason 10, a reluctant decision he described tochef Rachel Hargroveas “one of the most humbling experiences of my life.”
Below Deck Mediterranean’sCaptain Sandy Yawnstepped in for much of the season, with Rosbach telling PEOPLE in December: “She really did me a solid.I’m grateful she was there.”
Monica Schipper/Bravo via Getty
Below Deckdebuted in July 2013, and its 10th season kicked off Nov. 21 with Rosbach and theSt. Davidcrew navigating the waters around the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia.
Kate Chastain— who developed a close personal bond with Rosbach while serving as his chief stew for several seasons — reflected on her mentor’s time onBelow Deckduring a visit toWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenin mid-December.
“You know, I think he had a great run,” said Chastain, 40. “Ten years! It was his choice, for health reasons, and I think he’s pleased with it.”
Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Ahead ofWatch What Happens Live’s “Ce-LEE-brate Good Times!” special on March 27 at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo,Below Deckcan be streamed in full on Peacock.
source: people.com
