What Became of Ben Willoughby After Below Deck Season 11?
Ben Willoughby had a rough ride on Below Deck seasons 10 and 11, but the lead deckhand turned bosun is thriving after starring in the hit Bravo series. Hailing from the Australian Gold Coast, the lead deckhand was promoted to bosun in a pinch after Captain Kerry Titheradge was forced to fire Jared Woodin. While Captain Kerry openly admitted that Ben wouldn’t have been his first choice, he controversially served as bosun for the rest of Below Deck season 11.
Unfortunately for Ben, his charter season wasn’t smooth sailing. The bosun regularly clashed with Captain Kerry, feeling his management style was micromanaging and too strict. Furthermore, he left season 11 on a sour note, having refused to clean his cabin alongside deckhand Kyle Stillie, a direct refusal of orders from Captain Kerry. He had a propensity for flirting and gossiping directly in front of his boatmance, Sunny Marquis. Ben was also her boss, adding another layer of unprofessionalism. What is Ben up to after causing trouble aboard the St. David?
Ben Confirmed His Relationship With Sunny Marquis
They’ve Been Together For 15 Months
Surprisingly, Ben and Sunny are still together after a tumultuous charter season. In an Instagram post, Ben captioned, “Yes you guessed it,” followed by a tongue-sticking-out emoji, “We are still together! Finally we can let go of the secrecy that has been held for the past 15 months.” The two were all smiles as Ben posted various shots of the pair from their time as a couple, including Sunny visiting Australia for Christmas. Over the past year, Ben and Sunny “traveled the globe together,” and reliving the season was a journey neither of them could have imagined.
“W e are still together! Finally we can let go of the secrecy that has been held for the past 15 months. ”
Fans were shocked but supportive in the comments, saying, “Cuties babes! You guys are great together x,” and “YESSSSSS WAS ROOTING FOR YOU GUYS,” followed by three red hearts and the praise hands emoji. However, some don’t trust Ben’s intentions. “I wonder if he still contacts Camille behind her back,” wrote one viewer, followed by a shocked emoji, while another commented, “She’s too good for you bro,” followed by a crying laughing emoji. Even offscreen, Ben divides fans.
Ben Still Works In Yachting
He Travels The World
According to Ben’s engaging Instagram, the Below Deck bosun still works in yachting. Aside from posting behind-the-scenes photos of him and Sunny after the show, he’s been active the last year, sharing posts from his offscreen charters. In a post from early May, Ben shared shots from a charter in the Bahamas, captioning the photos, “Day out on the rods,” followed by a fishing emoji, “in the Bahamas.” The yachtie was enjoying some time in the sun, catching a barracuda on a much-needed day off.
Ben’s desire to travel the world motivates him to continue working in yachting despite a difficult charter season on Below Deck .
Aside from making some extra cash on other charters, Sunny and Ben traveled the world together over the past 15 months. While it’s unclear where they went, the two definitely visited the Gold Coast. St. Maarten, Tenerife, and Florida were recent outings for the bosun, who is always keeping busy traveling the world while making a buck.
Ben’s Journey On Below Deck
It Wasn’t Smooth Sailing
Ben’s journey on Below Deck season 11 was anything but smooth sailing. The controversial bosun failed to rise to the occasion many times after he replaced Jared mid-charter. While Ben was a capable deckhand, his personal issues got in the way of effectively managing a leadership role. Instead of focusing on running a tight exterior crew, Ben was busy stringing along Sunny in a problematic boatmance, flirting with Paris Field and Xandi Olivier in front of her.
Additionally, Ben consistently got involved in petty gossip, stirring the pot with the interior crew, especially Cat Baugh and Barbie Pascual, before Cat’s sudden departure. As if flirting with the other Below Deck season 11 crew members and guests wasn’t enough, Ben had the audacity to FaceTime his former fling, Camille Lamb, to see if she’d be interested in reconnecting. When she wasn’t, Ben suggested that he and Sunny continue their casual relationship.
Most importantly, Ben and Captain Kerry didn’t get along. Ben didn’t appreciate the captain’s detailed leadership style, and Captain Kerry felt Ben lacked the skills and attention needed to be the best bosun. Furthermore, Captain Kerry made his feelings about Ben known when he neglected to clean his cabin for a routine check. The blatant insubordination caused the captain to lash out at Ben during the last charter. While he apologized, the relationship was damaged.
Will Ben Return For Below Deck Season 12?
He Doesn’t Want To Work With Captain Kerry
The yachtie seems unlikely to return for Below Deck season 11, given Ben’s outspoken refusal to work with Captain Kerry again. Captain Kerry was spotted filming Below Deck season 12, so it’s fair to say he will be at the helm in the upcoming season. If Ben was serious about not wanting to work with the seasoned captain again, he would not be back for Below Deck season 12. Interestingly, a deckhand bearing a resemblance to Sunny appeared in the same clip that confirmed Captain Kerry and Chief Stew Fraser Olender’s return, but there’s no official verification of her casting.
