Below Deck Mediterranean’s Captain Sandy Yawn has found lasting love in her wife, Leah Shafer — but they believe the best is still ahead.
“It is about forever, and when you have that person through thick and thin, sickness and health, they’re going to be there for you. They’re there for the long haul,” Sandy, 61, reveals exclusively of Shafer, 52, in the latest issue of Us magazine, on newsstands now. “I feel secure. I feel safe. She feels the same way. We’re building our future.”
The couple celebrated their second wedding anniversary this spring, and while their relationship isn’t always perfect, Sandy knows marriage is a marathon, not a sprint.
“Of course, we have conflict once in a while, but we always hug it out, navigate through it,” she told Us while promoting season 11 of her hit Bravo show. “I always say I like feeling good over feeling bad, and [Leah] is so wonderful. She gives me grace. She gives me do-overs, and we love each other.”
Oh, and a few giggles never hurt.
“Leah is very funny. I laugh a lot with her, and I love when she laughs at me,” Sandy added. “They’re belly laughs. You’ve got to have playtime. We’re in love [and] I just see it getting better and better.”
When it comes to long-lasting love, Sandy cites “communication and kindness” as critical elements to success.
“If you have a disagreement, be kind. You could be upset, but you don’t have to call names … you don’t always have to point out the past in the present,” she told Us. “Just point out what’s happening in the moment, because when you start doing that, you’re chipping away at that passion between each other.”
Sandy and her wife have a rule: They talk about the present, and they don’t bring the past into an argument.
“‘Remember five years ago you did this, remember two years ago’ … that’s not allowed. That’s in the past,” she told Us. “So whatever’s happening in that moment and what we’re upset about is what we discuss, and we move forward. We go, ‘OK, I’ll work on that,’ and the other person is open.”
Most importantly, after a disagreement, it’s all about coming together again.
“Sometimes we have to separate and give it a few minutes, but I’m, like, the puppy. It’s like, ‘Please, please, let’s just hug, we’ll be fine,’” Sandy said. “Leah needs a little time, and I have to respect that. We hug it out and we love each other, and we move on. We’ve learned over the years.”
The captain was previously married to entertainer Ross Shafer, with whom she shares daughter Lauren, for 20 years. She first met Schafer in 2018 when the gospel singer reached out to her on social media. A year later, they took their relationship public.
The pair got engaged in September 2023 before tying the knot on May 11, 2024.
“Our first dance … and from that moment on, I knew,” Sandy captioned a sweet Instagram video celebrating her two-year wedding anniversary with Shafer earlier this year. “I love being in your arms. With you by my side, I feel safe, deeply loved and like I can conquer anything life brings. Happy 2 years, my love! But we have been together for 7 years.”
Below Deck Med airs on Bravo Mondays at 8 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the next day on Peacock.
