Below Deck Down Under : Lara and Wihan’s feud pushes Captain Jason to his breaking point

Lara, Captain Jason, and Wihan from Below Deck Down Under. Image via Instagram/ @captainjchambers
Lara, Captain Jason, and Wihan from Below Deck Down Under. Image via Instagram/ @captainjchambers

The Below Deck Down Under crew is no stranger to drama, but this time, it might cost someone their job. Chief Stew Lara Rigby and Bosun Wihan Du Toit have been at each other’s throats, clashing over everything from break schedules to cleaning responsibilities. Their ongoing feud has finally reached Captain Jason Chambers, and he’s had enough.

“I’m so over this drama with Lara and Wihan.”

Jason admitted in his confessional.

“If they can’t figure this out and find a way to work together, someone’s going home.”

With tensions at an all-time high, let’s dive into what led to this breaking point and what it could mean for the rest of the Below Deck Down Under season.


Why are Lara and Wihan fighting on Below Deck Down Under?

Lara runs a tight ship, preferring efficiency and structure. Wihan, on the other hand, takes a more relaxed approach. The two have been butting heads all season, but things escalated in Episode 9 of Below Deck Down Under when Lara voiced her frustrations during a department head meeting.

“I just feel sometimes the deck team is having too much fun, and I need that support from you.”

Lara told Wihan, who does not seem to see the issue. She further shared her concerns,

“I cannot be everywhere. I need you to have my back.”

Tensions boiled over further when Head Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph chimed in. She was frustrated with how Wihan handled a guest excursion and didn’t hold back. She stated,

“You have an explanation for everything, you’ve not once gone, ‘Yeah, I f**ked up.’”

Wihan stood his ground, explaining that he needed to prioritize his team’s needs. But Lara wasn’t convinced.

“I don’t think he even knows how to manage. He just wings it every single day.”

Foam party fallout on Below Deck Down Under

The feud between Lara and Wihan took a messy turn—literally—after a wild foam party left the Below Deck Down Under deck covered in soap suds. The guests had a blast, but for the crew, it meant hours of cleanup.

Deckhand Johnny Arvanitis was left to deal with the mess alone while Wihan grabbed a late-night snack and went to bed. “Where is Wihan?” Johnny asked while trying to hose down the deck.

By the time morning rolled around, the boat was still in disarray. Harry Van Vilet, another deckhand, was tasked with finishing the job, but Lara wasn’t happy with the timing. She pointed out,

“Wihan, this should’ve been done before the guests arrived,”

Instead of taking responsibility, Wihan shifted the blame. First, he blamed Johnny, then Harry. But Captain Jason wasn’t buying the excuses. Captain Jason told Wihan,

“We’re five charters in, you know the job. Don’t throw anyone under the bus. Let’s get it perfect.”

Captain Jason reaches his breaking point

By the end of the Below Deck Down Under episode, Jason was clearly fed up with the ongoing tension between his department heads. The constant bickering and finger-pointing were affecting the entire crew’s performance.

Up on the captain’s deck, Wihan tried to gain sympathy from Jason, saying the foam party made things difficult. But Jason wasn’t having it. Wihan complained,

“I cannot have someone commenting on everything.”

To this, Jason’s response was blunt:

“Then get it done right the first time.”

Meanwhile, Lara vented to Tzarina, calling Wihan “unprofessional” and someone she “can’t work with.”

With neither willing to back down, Jason had no choice but to issue a warning. If they couldn’t resolve their issues, one of them would be sent home. It’s a rare but necessary move on Below Deck Down Under to keep operations smooth.


With tensions still running high, all eyes are on Jason to see what his next move will be. Will he send Wihan or Lara home? Or will they find a way to make peace before it’s too late?

For now, fans will have to keep watching Below Deck Down Under to find out how this power struggle plays out. One thing’s for sure—this season is far from over, and the drama is only heating up.

Edited by Sangeeta Mathew
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