A dashing new face is making waves on the high seas of reality television. Miami-based Hugo Ortega, a seasoned superyacht bosun, has anchored himself in the latest season of Bravo’s Below Deck. Beyond the drama and debacles, Ortega is also the founder of Superyacht Sunday School, a mentorship platform dedicated to guiding the next generation of seafarers.
WRITTEN BY: IZABELA CANNELLE
If you could only eat one Miami dish for the rest of your life, what would it be? Khao Soi at the Lung Yai Tapas Thai Restaurant in Calle Ocho (Little Havana) or Lucali’s Pizza on South Beach.
What’s the most surprising thing you learned about yourself while filming Below Deck? How calm I actually am under pressure. And weirdly, I REALLY liked being on camera.
Fill in the blank: The one thing I’d never do on a yacht is… get arrested and escorted off the Yacht like Kelly in episode 10 of Season 12 of Below Deck.
If your yachting career had a theme song, what would it be? “Started from the Bottom” by Drake
What’s your go-to karaoke song? Tainted Love by Soft Cell
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? Easy. I’d want the power to teleport. No delays, no airports, no plane fares—just blink and I’m in the Med. Or Fort Lauderdale.
Sunrise or sunset on the water? Summer sunrises in Sweden are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen on the water.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about working on a superyacht? People think Below Deck is all staged and over-the-top. But honestly? Real life on ‘normal’ superyachts is way more dramatic. Like, you think what makes it to TV is wild? I’ve seen crew get arrested, disappear mid-season, have full-blown breakdowns, sleep with guests, and still show up for breakfast service the next day. The show is much more tame.
What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever sailed to? Sweden. Hands down. And once we docked? I’m telling you… the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen in one place in my life.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? In today’s world, too many people settle for mediocre. Make sure to give everything that you do an extra 10% and you will be ahead of 90% of your competition.
What’s one thing you hope to achieve with your Superyacht Sunday School program? I want to make sure that NONE of the aspiring crew are tricked into purchasing expensive and unnecessary courses from scam artists. It’s gone on for YEARS and I hope to end that cycle.
How many hours a day do crew members typically work? Normal days we work 8 hours, but on charters and trips crew can work up 10 – 16 hours!
If you had to pick one, which country has the better music for a yacht party: Honduras or the Dominican Republic? Dominican Republic, for sure. Salsa and bachata for days.
If you could institute one new rule on the Below Deck yacht, what would it be? Whoever hooks up has to buy drinks for the rest of the crew that night.
