Below Deck Season 12, Episode 5 Recap: Caio Gets the Boot and Rainbeau Spirals. The crew tension boils over in Below Deck Season 12, Episode 5 as Caio finally walks the plank, Fraser makes a clean break from his boyfriend, and Rainbeau struggles to fit in with the rest of the interior. From brunch drama to beach volleyball, here’s everything that went down.

💔 Jacuzzi Regrets & Fresh Breakups

We kick off in the aftermath of the infamous Jacuzzi night. Fraser is still processing his kiss with Damo, but in typical Fraser fashion, he’s rationalizing it. His reasoning? Damo isn’t gay, so technically, it wasn’t cheating. But, the kiss may have just been the final push Fraser needed to break things off with his long-distance boyfriend. They finally have “the talk,” and Fraser calls it quits. Good for him. He deserves someone who can match his sparkle.

Meanwhile, Kyle and Solène are heating up fast. They sneak off for drinks, get caught in the rain (rom-com moment alert), and spend the night together in a guest cabin. Kyle is smitten. Solène? She’s keeping things casual. We’ll see how long that lasts.

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⛳️ Brunch Games & Interior Blame

The crew is granted a rare half-day off and heads to brunch. It starts off light, with a cheeky game led by Fraser, but Rainbeau can’t help feeling like a third wheel as Solène and Bárbara’s friendship grows stronger. Rainbeau admits she’s always had trouble connecting with women, and that vulnerability seems to be eating away at her. Every attempt she makes to bond with the other stews comes off as forced, and the feedback from Solène is… less than warm. Let’s just say Rainbeau’s feeling like the odd one out—and honestly, it might not just be in her head.

🛟 Bosun on Borrowed Time

Back on the yacht, things are less romantic and more chaotic. Captain Kerry is officially over Caio’s lack of communication, poor leadership, and failure to take accountability. From docking missteps to forgetting tender procedures, Caio is repeatedly coming up short. Even Jess, who’s been quietly holding it down on the deck team, voices her concerns to Kerry. She describes Caio as “scatterbrained,” and it’s clear the captain agrees.

Then comes the final straw: another botched docking. Kerry watches as Caio fails to prepare the stern line correctly. The boat makes it in safely, but Kerry’s patience has hit its limit. He pulls Caio aside, tells him he’s lost trust, and just like that, Caio’s time aboard comes to an end. As they say in Brazil, tchau tchau.

With the bosun gone, will Jess step into a leadership role? She’s clearly capable and respected by the team. Only time will tell, but this deck crew could use a strong hand on the wheel.

👨‍🍳 A Side of Sass With That Service

Meanwhile, Anthony nails his Havana-themed dinner service for the guests, though he clearly isn’t vibing with Fraser anymore. Their dynamic feels increasingly awkward, and Anthony seems to be keeping Fraser at arm’s length. Could there be another stew showdown brewing?

💵 Guests, Games & Goodbye Tips

In terms of guests, this charter was smooth sailing. They were friendly, chill, and tipped well ($28,000 to be exact), which was a much-needed boost after last week’s drama. Between beach volleyball (which the guests surprisingly won) and tropical excursions, they got the full Below Deck experience—without any major guest-related drama.

All in all, Episode 5 delivered the goods: leadership shakeups, emotional breakups, and plenty of tension to carry us into next week. If this crew thinks it’s going to be smooth sailing from here, they better think again.

Don’t forget, Anchor Watch (our weekly late night Below Deck recap) returns NEXT WEEK (7/8) live on Up And Adam! at 10:30PM ET / 7:30PM PT!

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