What happened to Captain Lee from Below Deck?

Captain Lee Rosbach announced his exit from Below Deck following his Season 10 because of personal issues. Here is what you need to know about it and what happened next.

Captain Lee Rosbach has been a fan-favorite in the Below Deck franchise since the first season in 2013. However, after 10 seasons the viewers’ favorite captain announced his departure.

Bravo officially announced Captain Lee’s exit during BravoCon 2023 and revealed a familiar face would be stepping in for Season 11.

After a decade as the only captain of Below Deck, viewers had a special attachment to the reality star. Lee Rosbach’s sudden exit had fans wondering the reason behind his departure.

Why did Captain Lee leave Below Deck?

During the filming of Season 10, Captain Lee was dealing with mobility issues and even came on set with crutches or a cane. He expressed frustration with the fact that he couldn’t keep up with his deck and interior team because he was confined to the St. David’s bridge or his cabin.

He told viewers in an episode: “My injury, it’s getting worse. The left side of my body, I don’t feel anything. I expected a lot more progress than I’m experiencing, and the most frustrating part about it is, I can’t do a goddamn thing about it, and it’s hard.”

While filming Season 10 he was forced to leave mid-filming and had to fly to Florida to get surgery for his mobility issues. Captain Sandy Yawn of Below Deck Med was asked to step in to fill the position during his emergency exit.

In January 2024, Deadline announced that Captain Lee will star in the new Oxygen series Deadly Waters.

How old is Captain Lee?

Lee Rosbach is a Michigan resident born in 1949, making him 74 years old at the time of writing. He never wanted to be a yacht captain – however, to him, it was a job he was good at. After getting his captain license, he began to work on yachts and superyachts. He joined the Below Deck franchise at 64 years old.

Who replaced Captain Lee on Below Deck?

It was announced on November 3, 2023, that Captain Kerry Titheradge who previously worked on Below Deck Adventure was to replace Captain Lee.

Chief Stew Fraser Olender, who Captain Sandy fired in Season 10, is set to make his comeback. His return will be joined with lead deckhand Ben Willoughby in Season 11.