Zimbabwe-born superyacht captain João Franco transitioned from a South African overlander business to the maritime industry, before becoming a breakout star on Bravo’s Below Deck. Despite initially turning down the reality series to focus on his career, a persistent casting director led him to feature in four seasons of the show, while advancing to lead deckhand and, eventually, captain. Mallorca Bulletin caught up with the 36-year-old at home in Ballito, South Africa, accompanied by the occasional honk of a resident peacock.
Was yachting your first career?
“No, my brother and I built a solid business in South Africa manufacturing ‘overlanders’ - custom 4x4 recreational vehicles - from scratch in our backyard. We were featured in various magazines but, after the economy crashed for like the fourth time, we had to look elsewhere for work.”
“A cheffing couple visited my house, friends of friends, and mentioned they’d just completed their STCW - maritime safety training - to work on boats. Honestly, I didn’t even know superyachts existed, I’d never left Southern Africa. I did two weeks of research, got my brother and me onto a course, and a month later we backpacked to Europe for the first time.”
Where did you start?
“My research pointed to Antibes. Ten years ago, it was less regulated and you could just wander into Port Vauban and go dockwalking. Starting at 06:30, we’d cover five ports in two countries in a single day. Despite being 26 and 24, we’d never used a bus, a train, or a credit card. And we were looking at yachts thinking, ‘they’re never going to let us work on those’.”
How did you land your first gig?
“Purely by chance, we met a captain and spent three weeks cleaning villas, doing security for the Cannes Festival, and tidying his house – knocking off for beers at 3 ‘o’ clock. Then a position opened on a 65-metre charter yacht, Silver Angel, so we played ‘Hick Hack Hock’ for it - I won. Luckily, a second spot opened the next day, so we both started as deckhands together, having never touched a chamois in our lives.”
How did Below Deck enter the frame?
“Before I even started on Silver Angel, a casting agent named Conan Ryan Facebook messaged me. I thought it was a joke but went through the motions. In the end, I chose a career over the show. As a driven person, I didn’t want to look like a fool on TV – oh, the irony - when I barely knew the job yet.”
How do they find the crew?
“They scour yachtie Facebook groups and databases like Yotspot for ‘faces for TV’. The net is cast wide – maybe 2,000 people – and they keep whittling. Even though I’d turned him down, Conan was persistent and told me one day he’d get me on. Eventually the stars aligned, I resigned from a boat and three days later got a message asking me if I wanted to put my name in the hat again. Finally, I gave in.”
What is the selection process like?
“Basically, it’s a series of interviews, ending with a panel of key producers. There’s also a gruelling multiple-choice psychological evaluation with 550 questions like, ‘Do you hear noises in your head?’. It’s surprising how many people pass – and, even more scary, how many people don’t. Years later, a psychologist showed me my detailed profile, and I must say it was spot on.”
What happened once you were cast?
“I had a week and a half before filming started in Amalfi. They take your phone and isolate you in a hotel for two days so you can’t see who else is cast. Then you walk onto the boat they’ve hired, meet the crew, and start a charter the next morning. It’s a recipe for disaster. We filmed for six weeks to get about 18 episodes - that’s probably only 5% of the total footage. The show aired in 2018.
Are the cast members good at their jobs?
“Not necessarily, which is frightening. I’m amazed there haven’t been bigger incidents. There have been some close calls, even during my time. Often, the producers are more proficient than the deckhands, because they’ve been filming this for 12 or 13 years now.”
Is the money worth the drama?
“Only if you do multiple seasons, in my opinion. The initial salary is only slightly above a standard yachting wage, plus tips. But the catch is the ‘pickups’ - the green screen interviews in LA months later. You might be called back once a month, making it impossible to hold a permanent job. It was in the small print of the contract, not that we read it. I did temp work until the LA filming ended. If you return for a second season, the rate improves. Luckily, I got an immediate callback and my second run was in France, where I’d progressed to lead deckhand. We shot in 2018 and it aired in 2019.”
What followed those early seasons?
“I landed my first captain’s job on a 30-metre vessel. The owner was a Below Deck fan, so he let me fly to LA for filming. Later, during COVID, I did a short stint in Tarragona then ran a 24-metre between Mallorca and Ibiza. Eventually, I got a job on a brand new 30-metre vessel in Saint-Tropez. I’ve been captaining brand new vessels ever since, which is fantastic.”
But you eventually returned to the show?
“Yes, I did Below Deck Down Under in 2021, airing in 2022, and filmed my final season last year which is on TV now. The show neatly mirrored my real-world career progression. Across the four series, I moved from deckhand to lead deckhand, bosun, and finally captain. I never wanted to be a deckhand forever, the goal was always the bridge, so I spent every spare moment doing courses to move up.”
How compatible was reality TV with the high stakes of running a superyacht?
“The level of responsibility on the show is actually far greater than in the real world, yet it’s often neglected – which bothers me. On a typical superyacht, you have a fully competent crew. On a TV show, you might have 50 people on board - including a production team - who lack experience. Even if they have the basic safety certifications, it doesn’t mean they’re qualified in any way shape or form.”
“Absolutely. I’ve met fabulous captains and, while I didn’t always agree with their methods, I took what I could to shape the professional I am today. Some boats declined my applications because of the show, but others didn’t. I once applied for a Chief Officer role, and the captain tried to call me out for ‘leaving the show off my CV’ – even though I detailed all the boats and captains. I explained it was the hardest I’d ever worked. As it turned out, his boat had more crew drama than Below Deck ever did.”
Do you have any regrets about the experience?
“None whatsoever. Everything - before and during the show - led me to my goal. I also used my Instagram presence to raise $600,000 for Bahamas tornado relief so, no, I don’t regret a second of it. Oh, and if you want to learn about yourself, get on a reality show and watch it unfold. You can’t argue with what you see on screen - it shows you exactly which parts of your character need work.”
Where are you working now?
“I can’t say much, but I’m now captain of a very large vessel. I started a few months ago, and it’s a rotational position, which is awesome. Below Deck recently hinted at a return, but my new role’s terms mean I won’t be going back. Sure, the money is great, but with the prestige of my current position, I think I’ve outgrown it.”
And you’re living in Mallorca?
“Part-time, yes. My partner and I built a cottage at the bottom of her parents’ garden in the Calvia countryside. I love that it feels remote, yet I can walk into a bar alone and immediately make a friend. I’ve decided to do a month in South Africa, then a few weeks in Mallorca, and one week exploring a new destination. It feels strange being on my first rotation - I catch myself wondering if I still have a job, if I’m still getting paid!”
What draws you to the Island?
“I first came to Palma in 2019 for a course – Efficient Deck Hand with Bluewater - and fell in love with the multicultural vibe. Between 2024 and 2025, I ran Cabo, a 43-metre Pershing 140 - an incredible machine, built by Ferretti. On our last trip, the owner asked where to go, and I suggested Mallorca because I knew it like the back of my hand – boy did I regret that comment. He never wanted to stay in one place and always wanted to move at 37 knots. We hit every port the boat could fit into, it was a stunning experience. My boss even convinced me to cycle the Sa Calobra hairpins and across Formentor to the lighthouse. I looked like a ‘heffalump’ on a €20,000 toothpick. I strangely developed a bit of a thing for cycling – though I’m still not sure about the Lycra. Since moving here, my partner and I have tried almost every restaurant, beach bar and cocktail spot, and it’s always a good feeling - everyone is just so happy.”