Yacht crew safety reforms: why change is urgently needed

This is in honour of Paige Bell, who the industry—and her family—have so devastatingly lost. In light of this tragic loss, there is an urgent call for yacht crew safety reforms.

Over the last three years, since my friend was hospitalised by a captain, I’ve had a silent vendetta against the yachting industry. Especially after what I experienced during my first season on Below Deck—though we don’t need to go into that. What we do need to talk about is how we make change. Because right now, to say the least, I’m spitting.

Why aren’t background checks mandatory on boats? Two and a half years ago, I started sharing a petition to get them implemented. It keeps getting dismissed or laughed off. No matter how many signatures we collect, crew safety is still not a priority. And it should be the most important thing.

Every time I scroll through social media, there’s something new—boats sinking, crew collapsing from exhaustion, salaries being undercut, people being assaulted or hospitalised. And now, another death. The list keeps growing. When will it stop?

We all have to pass an ENG1 to prove our physical health to work on board. But what about mental health evaluations? Why aren’t we being assessed psychologically to ensure we’re not endangering others? If someone is even slightly overweight or has a medical condition, they might be denied a job. But if someone is manipulative, violent, or narcissistic, they’re free to work and abuse others—unchecked.

My friend had her ribs broken by her captain. He’s allegedly harmed over 17 women. This year, he went to court in West Palm Beach and got a slap on the wrist. His lawyer is now fighting to get him back on boats. How is this allowed?

Why don’t we have a proper blacklist system in place? Why are agencies not held accountable for continuously placing dangerous people in roles of authority?

This industry glamorises itself for guests. Seven-star luxury. But for the crew, there’s no luxury. No safety. No accountability. We deserve better. The people who work hard to keep these boats running deserve to feel safe and supported—not disposable.

It’s time to speak louder. Because change isn’t coming unless we demand it.