Below Deck‘s Kate Chastain offered a surprising update on where her friendship with Captain Lee Rosbach stands after they grew apart.
“I’m just so busy with my toddler,” Kate, 42, exclusively told Us Weekly while attending BravoCon 2025 in Las Vegas on Friday, November 14. “I think it happens when you work with somebody.”
Kate clarified why she was no longer in touch with Lee, 76. “You’ve got something in common to talk about — and now we don’t,” she added. “The ship has sailed. I’m happy for him and I’m happy for me.”
The former chief stew previously confirmed that she hadn’t spoken with her former boss.
“I moved away from Fort Lauderdale and obviously we don’t work on boats together anymore,” she shared with Us in September. “But he was always such a big part of my life that we’ve lost touch a little bit. But I wish him very well.”
After joining Below Deck in season 2, Kate worked solely with Lee as her captain, which brought them close throughout the years. Kate exited the series in 2020 and Lee, who was on the show since it debuted, surprised fans when he confirmed his exit three years later.
Kate and Lee reunited on Couch Talk With Captain Lee and Kate, which aired for one season in 2023. On Below Deck, Lee was subsequently replaced with Captain Kerry Titheradge — but not before Captain Sandy Yawn briefly filled in for him when Lee had health issues during his last season on the show.
After Lee publicly questioned how Sandy, 60, ran things in his absence, Kate showed support for them both.
“I think that Sandy is a really talented captain. She always has been. I think she drives the boat the best out of any captain in any Below Deck franchise,” Kate told Us in June 2024. “I don’t think that any of Lee’s criticisms of her were necessarily fair [or] warranted.”
She continued: “Just like with any other friends, I’m not going to take sides or end a friendship if that’s not how I feel.”
Kate then attended Sandy’s 2024 nuptials to Leah Shafer. She has since named Sandy as one of the people she would like to work with on screen.
“From the moment that I saw her 1st season,” Kate told Us in June. “I think a lot of people who haven’t worked in yachting don’t understand this. She is an incredible captain in the Mediterranean vs. other parts of the world, specifically the way they park a boat. It’s like backing into a parking spot. It’s called Med mooring. She does that so well. It’s really impressive.”
While Kate isn’t currently crossing paths with Lee, she did get an opportunity to spend time with Below Deck stars and Bravo reality stars.
“It’s so good [being here]. BravoCon is a really fun little vacation from mom life,” Kate, who welcomed son Sullivan in 2023, added on Friday. “It’s nice to have a little bit of a break. … I think we’re about to start potty training, which is a big mountain to climb — and I’ll be happy on the other side.”
