BREAKING: Gary King Becomes the Next Captain of The Below Deck Crew

Below Deck Sailing Yacht First Officer Gary King is working hard to repair his shattered image. Gary, who’s been an essential part of Captain Glenn Shephard’s Parsifal III crew since season 2, has been a polarizing member of the BDSY cast. He’s hardworking and fun-loving, but his personal life has dominated headlines in recent years. Gary’s abysmal season 4 behavior drew criticism, but it paled in comparison to allegations of on-set sexual misconduct that became public soon after the season ended.

Many viewers thought Gary didn’t deserve to return to Below Deck Sailing Yacht after his improper behavior came to light. He began season 5 with the uphill battle of proving himself to both the audience and his coworkers. Surprisingly, Gary seems to have turned a corner. He’s focusing on his work and conducting himself in a much more dignified manner, showing newfound self-awareness. Gary’s change of heart could be a sign that his story is far from over, and he may even have one of Below Deck’s most successful redemption arcs.

Gary Has Held A Controversial Status

He’s Known For His Boatmances And Drunken Antics

Gary has always been known as a womanizer (via Hayu.) His unbridled flirtation led to a series of boatmances throughout his time on Below Deck Sailing Yacht. But Gary’s antics reached a new low when he aggressively pursued Chief Stew Daisy Kelliher right in front of her boyfriend, First Engineer Colin Macrae. His reckless disregard for the feelings of his crewmates and long-time friends left his reputation badly damaged. The disastrous love triangle proved just how careless and selfish Gary could be in his pursuit of a hookup.

After season 4 aired, a member of the production crew accused Gary of sexual misconduct. The allegations detailed behavior that became more aggressive after alcohol consumption. While Gary and the alleged victim were separated for the duration of filming, Gary faced no repercussions and was even brought back for the next season. He has denied any wrongdoing and referred to his accuser as a liar.

Gary’s problematic behavior tends to circle back to his alcohol use.

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He lets loose on crew nights out between high-stress charters. But while the rest of the crew is looking to let off some steam, Gary has admitted in season 5 that his drinking is a problem. After he drunkenly injured Chief Engineer Davide Morosi, a saga that cost the entire crew their day off, Gary decided to abstain from alcohol on nights out. This suggests he’s finally learning from his mistakes, and he’s making an effort to right some of his past wrongs.

Is Gary Still Sober?

He Recently Alluded To Drinking

Gary seems to have taken a relaxed approach to his sobriety. He showed impressive self-control by abstaining on a night out with the crew, watching his friends drink and eventually going to bed early. But in the next episode, he went out for a glass of wine with Daisy to talk about their friendship and the prospect of a romantic future together. It seems that Gary isn’t swearing off alcohol entirely, but rather the partying behavior that he associates with it.

Gary recently shared a video in which he mentioned having an Aperol Spritz with his current crew. This confirms that he hasn’t completely stopped drinking alcohol.

However, it’s still possible he’s working on moderation, which is a big improvement from his past overindulgence.

Gary Just Closed A Chapter In His Life

He Reached An Impressive Sailing Goal

Since filming Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5, Gary has stayed busy on the sea. He spent November and December 2024 on a sailing excursion from Capetown, South Africa to Mallorca, Spain. Gary was working on a delivery crew, a change of pace from the guest-focused charter yachts. The massive undertaking exemplified Gary’s passion and commitment to sailing.

Gary documented each day of his journey on social media, and he had mixed emotions as the trip concluded. While he was proud of his accomplishments, he was sad to say goodbye to the 25-day journey. Meanwhile, Gary’s experience at sea took him to a new professional level. He seems to crave more adventure and responsibility than his role as First Officer can offer, suggesting he could be preparing to move up in the ship’s ranks.

Gary Is Trying To Change His Image

He’s Rebranding Himself After Scandal

Gary’s social media presence is emblematic of his evolving public persona. His daily vlogs about his sailing trip display his dedication to his profession, similar to his rival Colin Macrae’s sailing YouTube channel. Gary also posted an Instagram story on Christmas alongside his mother, showing off a different side of his personality. Gary is leaving his party boy days behind him and instead presenting himself as a family man who prioritizes spending holidays with the people who mean the most to him.

Gary is also working to refresh his physical appearance. He looks healthier and more at peace since toning down his playboy antics. Gary recently debuted a new shorter haircut, cutting off the signature long style that many associated with his wild behavior. Gary even wrote in a comment on his Instagram that quitting smoking is his “next goal.”

Could Gary Become A Below Deck Captain?

He Has Potential Despite His Wild Side

Gary has mentioned his aspirations to become a Captain, and it seems that may be a possibility in the not-so-distant future. When a commenter asked if he was still sailing with Captain Glenn, the response was telling. Gary wrote that “Glenn is pretty much retired now.” Glenn has been the Captain for the duration of Below Deck Sailing Yacht, and his retirement would cause a major shift. It would only be natural for his replacement to be a familiar face, paving the way for Gary to become the new Captain.

Gary certainly has the knowledge necessary to become an exemplary Captain. He’s passionate about his work and, when he behaves well, is good for the show. However, if Gary intends to rise to the highest position, he still has to prove himself worthy of respect.

Although he seems to be on the right track, Gary has a long road ahead of him. He’s no longer creating chaos, but that doesn’t rid him of responsibility for the damage he’s done in the past. Gary will have to continue to step up his game and prove his maturity if he wants to take on a higher rank. Gary would be lucky to still have a future on Below Deck Sailing Yacht after everything he’s done, and becoming the Captain would require him to commit to truly changing for good.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo.