I’m Convinced Caio Will Be The First Below Deck Season 12 Firing (This Is Who Should Take His Place)

 
Below Deck season 12 is only just beginning, but there’s already one crew member who clearly has to go. Below Deck's Caio Poltronieri joined Captain Kerry Titheradge’s team as a bosun - he had five years of yachting experience under his belt, but his lackluster leadership already has the deck team in disarray. He’s made a series of errors, but even worse, he’s responded with a careless attitude that’s extremely off-putting. I’m certain that if Caio is already slacking this early in the season, he’s going to be sent packing sooner rather than later.

Season 12 sees Caio running a team that includes Below Deck's Jess Theron, Damo Yorg, and Kyle Stillie. While his behavior has been concerning from the start, Caio isn’t the only member of the exterior crew whose actions are cause for alarm. The trailer shows Kyle, who made his Below Deck debut in season 11, facing accusations of hooking up with a married charter guest. Captain Kerry is a fair leader, but he’s not known for his patience. At least one crew member will be fired this season, and I’m willing to bet Caio will be the first.

Caio’s Already Made A Series Of Mistakes
He Can’t Manage His Team Effectively
Just a handful of episodes in, all eyes are on Caio due to his less than stellar start to the season. During the first charter, Caio failed to ensure the guests’ luggage was aboard the St. David, resulting in it being left behind at the dock. Captain Kerry made it clear that the luggage was Caio’s responsibility. The oversight was an embarrassing misstep that laid the groundwork for what was ahead.

Caio’s chaos was soon felt within the deck team as they took on an excruciating five-day charter. Jess, the lead deckhand, explained that Caio wasn’t staying on top of giving the team their breaks, revealing she'd never even been given a chance to eat. The deckhands complained that they weren’t informed of their break schedules until the last minute, if at all. I think it’s a huge red flag that Caio isn’t looking out for his team, and he clearly doesn’t have the leadership skills to manage them effectively.

Captain Kerry Is Losing Patience With Caio
He’s Already Given Him A Warning
Captain Kerry’s frustration with Caio grew when the bosun botched a snorkeling trip. He first misdirected the captain about where to go and seemed disoriented by his surroundings. Later, Caio brought the guests back from the expedition without warning the rest of the crew. As Caio’s mistakes continued piling up, Captain Kerry knew it was time to have a word.

Captain Kerry called Caio to the bridge and gave him a stern warning about his “schoolboy errors.” The captain asked Caio if he was up for the job, to which Caio replied, “I’m pretty sure I’m up for it.” Caio mentioned the stress of managing three other people, which is apparently something he’s never done before. His lack of conviction is mind-blowing, and it doesn’t give me a lot of faith that he’ll be able to turn things around.

Jess Should Permanently Replace Caio As Bosun
She’s Already Proven Herself
After Caio’s inevitable firing, I believe Jess should fill his role for the remainder of the season. She has previous experience as a bosun, so she’s certainly qualified for the position. Jess has also already proven herself as fair and mild-mannered, and she’s a hard worker who can command the respect of her team. She also has confidence, which is something Caio is sorely lacking.

Jess replacing Caio as Below Deck season 12’s bosun would be a night-and-day difference. Caio’s chaotic energy doesn’t belong on the St. David, and he needs to leave before he causes any further damage. With an experienced bosun already on board, the setup is perfect for Jess to seamlessly step into the role and bring some much-needed order to the deck team.