Below Deck Realities: Tzarina Mace-Ralph’s Call for Change in Yachting

Behind the Cameras: Reality vs. Perception

The name Below Deck evokes visions of luxury, drama, and jet skis slicing through turquoise water. But head chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph, from Below Deck Down Under, is quick to set the record straight.

“Unless you’ve done it, you can’t have an opinion. People think it’s glamorized, but you see crew collapsing, suffering anxiety attacks, even experiencing violence. If you look at that and think it’s aspirational, that’s not a Below Deck problem—that’s extreme naivety.”

For Tzarina, the show is less about fame and more about revealing the unfiltered reality of yacht life. What viewers see compressed into 40 minutes is, in her words, “yachting on steroids”—a grueling environment where cameras amplify already crushing expectations.

Mental Health in the Pressure Cooker

Years across 33 yachts have shown Tzarina a culture of burnout, silence, and cover-ups.

“I’ve known chefs to die of exhaustion in the galley. I’ve seen sexual harassment swept aside with payouts. In seven years, I’ve been harassed on nine boats—that’s my percentage.”

She highlights the hidden toll: isolation, legal threats, and trauma left to fester. Ironically, the TV production often provides supports the wider industry lacks—on-call therapy, HR check-ins, and alcohol limits.

“I used to announce it on board—‘I’m having therapy now.’ Normalizing that changes everything. If I hadn’t had therapy last season, it would have been so much worse.”

The Culture of Silence

Beyond fatigue and substance use, Tzarina points to systemic issues of unchecked power—captains with “god complexes,” recruiters prioritizing commissions, and owners focused on appearances over welfare.

“It’s not Below Deck, it’s the captains, the recruiters, and the owners—the people with money. The little people don’t have a voice. Change has to come from the top.”

Her stories are chilling: a captain ridiculing reporting procedures, crew pushed to exhaustion during yard periods, and even an early career placement that spiralled into a kidnapping scandal.

A Blueprint for Reform

Tzarina believes change must start with basics the industry still treats as optional:

• Mandatory psychological testing tied to medical certification

• Comprehensive background checks for crew and captains

• Paid, mandatory therapy between charters (even brief check-ins)

• Shore-side management actively enforcing boundaries and rest

• Practical rotations—even on smaller yachts—to sustain wellbeing and careers

“Even a five-minute therapy check-in can change the culture on board. Imagine the difference if it was mandatory.”

Rotations, she argues, also open pathways for parents, temps, and specialists—broadening the talent pipeline without sacrificing health.

Justice for Paige

Tzarina’s voice grows most impassioned when speaking of Paige, a young crew member whose recent passing shook the industry.

“She doesn’t even realize—unless she’s watching down—that through her, the yachting industry might finally change. That’s her legacy: justice, and hope for the rest of us.”

Speaking Out, Standing Strong

For Tzarina, telling the truth is non-negotiable—even if it costs roles.

“I don’t care about getting fired. I’m an experienced chef; I have options. What matters is justice. I’ve seen kidnapping, human trafficking, harassment—and too many people stay silent. I won’t.”

Her message is clear: crew must feel safe to speak up; management must act; owners must recognize that excellence depends on humane conditions.

“We give the illusion that we’re unbreakable. But we’re human. We deserve more than silence.”