Below Deck Season 12, Episode 12 Recap: Stuck at the Dock, Fraser Flusters & Kyle Spirals.
This week’s charter starts with a heavy anchor, the St. David can’t leave the dock. Captain Kerry delivers the news to the guests, and let’s be honest, it’s painfully awkward. We’ve seen similar moments on Below Deck Med with Captain Sandy, but it never gets easier. When you’re paying tens of thousands of dollars for a yacht experience, staying put at the dock feels like a slap. Seriously, for that kind of money you could fly to Bora Bora!
The engineers make a rare on-camera appearance, trying to troubleshoot the wing station, but no dice. With the boat stuck, the crew suddenly has to turn the St. David into a floating hotel and restaurant. That puts the spotlight firmly on Fraser and Chef Anthony — and neither man handles pressure gracefully.
🙃 Fraser’s Frenzy
Here’s the thing about Fraser: he is always flustered. From the moment the guests realize they aren’t leaving the dock, Fraser is spinning like a Bravo camera in B-roll. And don’t even get me started on the editing this season — it feels like filler after filler, Kardashian-style, just to stretch out the storyline.
Still, Fraser manages to think fast. With water toys delayed for hours (seriously, why couldn’t Hugo and Kyle just get the jet skis out?!), he pivots to a Champagne sunset cruise on the tender. It’s one of the few genuinely smart moves of the episode, and the guests finally crack a smile. But the way Fraser obsesses over Chef Anthony’s every move is exhausting. It’s giving “tattletale energy” more than leadership.
👨🍳 Anthony Under Fire
If the boat can’t move, the food becomes the main event, and Anthony knows it. To his credit, he delivers: from vegan-friendly plates to a full anniversary dinner, he keeps the guests fed and impressed. But behind the galley doors, he’s cracking.
When he radios the deck team to take out the garbage, no one answers. Hugo dismisses his frustration as “spiraling,” but come on — leaving trash piled up in the galley is gross and disrespectful. In a surprise moment, Solène of all people swoops in to take the trash bags out herself. Growth? Maybe. Or just the bare minimum finally happening.
Anthony’s resentment continues to simmer, especially when crew members like Damo critique his meals. By the time Bárbara casually asks about lunch during the tip meeting, Anthony snaps, storms off, and tells everyone to go f*** themselves. Yikes.
🍷 Kyle’s Apology Tour (and Spiral #297)
Kyle starts the episode apologizing to Solène for his past behavior, and she accepts, but not without shading him in her confessional. And honestly? Deserved. Solène may not be everyone’s favorite, but Kyle has been a tornado since day one.
Later, he jokes with producers about “giving Helen a call” (who even is Helen at this point?), then downs drinks while replaying soundbites from his messy storyline. The editing doesn’t help, he looks completely different in confessionals versus on the boat or on Watch What Happens Live, and the inconsistency is distracting.
At the crew dinner, Kyle toasts to “getting away with something,” then turns on Fraser, accusing him of being the reason he’s in trouble. Fraser storms out, furious. If Fraser were truly secure in his leadership, he wouldn’t let Kyle’s nonsense shake him so much — but here we are.
🎬 Final Thoughts
By the end of Episode 12, one thing is clear: this season is sinking. The Jess, Bárbara, and Solène “triangle” is painfully dull, Fraser is always frazzled, and Kyle keeps spiraling in circles. The editing is choppy, the pacing drags, and it’s starting to feel like filler more than fun.
Bottom line? This might be the weakest season of Below Deck yet — yes, even worse than Season 9.
7 Responses
At this point. Just ready for a re-cast next season!!
Agreed.
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⚓️⬇️ drop anchor
⚓️🧭✨
worst season ever.
I had high hopes!