Below Deck Down Under Captain Jason Chambers is finally losing his patience with Bosun Wihan Du Toit, but I believe the captain should be paying more attention to his own behavior. Captain Jason has been one of the most popular captains in the franchise since he first appeared in Below Deck Down Under season 1. During his second season, he impressed viewers with his swift action in the face of crew misconduct, proving his loyalty to his team by immediately firing the offenders. However, Captain Jason’s no-nonsense attitude diminished in season 3, and his crew is spiraling out of control.
One particular source of criticism is Jason’s handling of Wihan, who has displayed an alarming level of incompetence. Wihan’s lackadaisical approach has resulted in careless and often dangerous errors, including allowing guests to use a damaged jetski that nearly sank. As the crew’s frustrations with Wihan grew, Captain Jason urged them to work through the matter on their own. Now that tensions have escalated, Captain Jason is finally stepping in, but it may be too little, too late. The captain has made plenty of mistakes himself, risking the respect of those who once held him in high regard.
Jason Is Calling Out Wihan
He’s Fed Up With Wihan’s Negativity
Captain Jason failed to act on the crew’s initial complaints about Wihan, but he finally took notice after the ship’s environment became increasingly toxic. Wihan approached Captain Jason to complain about Chief Stew Lara Rigby, despite the captain previously urging the pair to work through their problems themselves.
Wihan clearly expected the captain to side with him based on Jason’s previous attitude.
However, he was met with an unexpected bluntness that pulled the rug out from under him.
After hearing Wihan’s complaints, Captain Jason told him to go back to Lara and tell her she was right. Later, Wihan and Deckhand Harry Van Vliet argued over the radio, leading Jason to step in. The situation escalated when, after a chaotic night in between charters, Captain Jason learned that Wihan had berated Harry, leaving him in tears. After interviewing the rest of the crew, he confirmed that Wihan was spreading negativity, something the captain had specifically warned him against.
Captain Jason had advised his crew that negativity could be infectious. Now that he’d identified the source of discord on the ship, Captain Jason confronted Wihan about his behavior, telling him he was “not cohesive” with the rest of the team. The captain then cited Wihan’s lack of accountability and suggested a change was in order, which I noticed put Wihan’s job on the line.
Captain Jason Does Sketchy Stuff Too
Neither Jason Nor Wihan Are Perfect
Although Captain Jason is held in high regard by Below Deck Down Under fans, I think his own behavior has been questionable. He appeared a little too comfortable when fulfilling guest requests for a nightclub atmosphere aboard the Katina. Captain Jason strutted through what he called the “Captain’s Lounge” in just a silky robe, puffing on a cigar. The sultry show was a hit among the guests, but it’s unfitting for an authority figure.
Especially considering Below Deck’s history of problems with sexual impropriety, Captain Jason should have known better.
Captain Jason and Wihan both have their flaws. They’ve each exhibited questionable leadership, and both have been resistant to criticism: Captain Jason was quick to fire back at perceived disrespect from both Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph and Stew Marina Marcondes de Barros, while Wihan took offense at Lara’s suggestions. Neither Captain Jason nor Wihan seem willing to consider the feedback they’re receiving. With Captain Jason in the highest-ranking position, the burden is on him to lead his team, and I’m not surprised Wihan is wavering under his sketchy example.
Will Jason & Wihan Mend Their Rift?
The Two May Have Reached The Point Of No Return
Considering the detrimental effect Wihan has had on the rest of the crew, I don’t believe it’s possible for him to redeem himself in Captain Jason’s eyes. Wihan ignored several warnings, and even while being scolded, he failed to see how his actions contributed to the ship’s dysfunction. The captain has repeatedly stated that he wants to eliminate negativity, and with Wihan identified as the source, I don’t see how the two can continue working together.
Captain Jason has never been shy about firing anybody who wasn’t contributing to the overall well-being of the crew. He may have excused Wihan’s bad behavior until now, but the spiraling events in recent episodes have pushed their working relationship beyond repair. Once Wihan is removed from the Katina, I’m confident the rest of Below Deck Down Under season 3 will be smooth sailing.
Below Deck Down Under season 3 airs on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET and streams the next day on Peacock.