It’s full speed ahead for Below Deck Season 11. After getting off to a shaky start, the crew of the motor yacht St. David is working well under the steady head of Captain Kerry Titheradge, who has taken over the helm for our beloved Captain Lee. While Captain Kerry has control of the bridge, it is franchise veteran Fraser Olender who runs the interior. After experiencing some growing pains in Season 10 with some unruly stews, Olender has learned from the past and is determined to run his team with a firmer hand this year.

“It’s a privileged position to be on this vessel,” said Olender. “If you’re showing signs of not wanting to be here, then by all means, I help you pack.” His interior crew consists of the dependable Xandi Oliver, the untested Cat Baugh, and the clearly troublesome Barbie Pascual. Though, Olender strives to be an understanding yet exacting leader. “I will always be there for my crew, even if they rub me the wrong way,” Olender explained. He did, however, reserve the right to “have my own opinion that I keep to myself as to whether I think someone can hack it or not.”

Another important member of the interior is French Chef Anthony Iracane. Olender was delighted to have him aboard, despite a wobbly first dinner service. “People just don’t understand how much there is for him to do, and the detail and length he needs to go to do his job,” observed Olender. Olender noted that the two “bonded” on a whole different level because they both speak French. “I did all my education in French, so to speak French is more natural for me than it is to speak in English,” explained Olender. Ooh la la!

We spoke to Olender over Zoom to talk to him about working with Captain Kerry, the crew’s already dramatic dynamics, and why Real Housewives Of New York alum Jill Zarin was one of the “harder” charter guests this season.

DECIDER: Captain Kerry is now at the helm on the Below Deck franchise, taking over for Captain Lee. What was your initial reaction when you heard the news?

FRASER OLENDER: Of course, I was sad to see Captain Lee go, but Kerry was wonderful to work with. As a Chief Stew, I don’t have any control over these things, so I’ve got to make do with what I’ve got. There’s nothing worse than crying over spilt milk. We move on. I’m very happy with how the season went so I can’t complain.

How does working for Captain Kerry differ from working for Captain Lee?

I’d worked with Captain Lee for two years, so we knew each other really well. He knew how to encourage and praise me. I knew how to look after him the best that I could. That’s something that does take time. Captain Kerry is the fourth captain I’ve worked with while on Below Deck. I’ve got experience in working with new blood in the helm, that’s for sure. Listen, it was fantastic. I got along with him really well. It took a few charters for him to trust me and to appreciate my work ethic, but we got there very quickly. I’m very happy to say we had a great season together.

In the first episode, you make it clear that you are going to make some changes in your leadership style from the previous season. What were those changes?

I was breaking my back in season 10. I was trying to be everywhere and do everything and make sure that I could control absolutely everything. Lo and behold, that doesn’t work out too well. This season, I decided to delegate and share the stress. In sharing responsibility with my stews, I was able to breathe, and I could focus on what really matters—creating the most amazing experience possible for the guests. It worked. I’m not perfect, but I’ve definitely brought a lot of what I’ve learned from Season 10 into this season. I’m really pleased and proud with my efforts.

You, of course, knew Lead Deckhand Ben Willoughby from your previous season. Did you anticipate that initial clash between him and Bosun Jared Woodin?

Ben knew the boat. It’s always gonna be tough coming in and knowing more than the person above you. However, thats a huge, huge part of being a good member of the team. You’ve got to be able to allow that person above you—who also has more experience than you—to lead. He struggled with that. I think he learned a lot from this season too.

Chef Anthony’s food in the first episode looks incredible. Were you excited to work with him and practice your French?

Of course. Not the least is that he is the sweetest guy on Earth, but his food is just incredible. Yeah, we had some timing issues, but it’s very difficult to do what he does on a vessel. People just don’t understand how much there is for him to do and the detail and length he needs to go to do his job. He was also new to the boat, so difficulties at the beginning are to be expected. Yes, he spoke French. I did all my education in French, so to speak French is more natural for me than it is to speak in English. We bonded on a whole other level. I just loved working with him so much. I really did.

Plus, Deckhand Sunny Marquis is from Quebec! Did you three connect more with your shared language?

Yes, in fact, we got told off a lot. People were like, “guys, you need to speak English. You know, we don’t understand what you’re saying.” I think once you’re working in extreme conditions and there’s so much going on, it’s natural to fall into your preferred way of communicating. We definitely had our little threesome of French speakers. That was really quite comforting.

I do want to talk more about the yachties this season. The minute Barbie whipped out those custom sheets; it was clear that she wasn’t going to be the easiest person to manage. Was she your biggest challenge this season?

There’s no point denying it. Yes [laughs], Barbie was indeed my biggest challenge this season. Listen, I would be totally stupid to think that I wasn’t going to get the most difficult people on this earth to manage. Even to this day, I’m surprised at how difficult people can be to work with. However, we make do. I think people will be surprised to see that. Things do get difficult, but you come out of that in the most positive way you can because you’ve got to. You’ve got a job to do. This job isn’t about how to connect with your fellow interior crew. It’s about your ability to connect with the guests and to perform at your very best.

Speaking of people performing at their very best…Cat cries during the first charter. You were so incredibly kind to her. Was it at all disheartening to have one of your stews break down so early?

Nothing surprises me anymore. At this point in the season, I’ve just met these people. I don’t know what they’ve been through in their lives. I don’t know what they’re going through. I’m there for them. That’s all I can do. Yes, I have my own opinion that I keep to myself as to whether I think someone can hack it or not. Someone eight hours into the job and already crying doesn’t give me too much hope. However, I will always be there for my crew, even if they rub me the wrong way.

I will say Xandi seems like a really great stew and could be your saving grace this season. Anyone who describes themselves as a “witch” and a “vampire” while working that hard is okay with me.

Xandi is incredible. Listen, when you’re given a fellow Chief Stew among your interior, it is a gift. I didn’t used to feel that way, but now I do. I no longer get insecure about it because it just means they know what they’re doing. She was my “saving grace” at times, as you’ve put it. I could put her wherever I wanted, and I knew that she’s going to be phenomenal. The other two stews weren’t great at housekeeping, so I was able to lean on Xandi. She was just incredible. I love her.

From Jared’s nerves to Cat’s anxiety to Chef Anthony’s chaotic energy, I think we’ve started out with an emotionally fraught crew. How did you deal with that?

Every season—especially the last two— I lose all hope for a smooth season the minute I get to the vessel [laughs]. I just take one step at a time, and I run with the challenges. Nothing’s ever going to be perfect first time around, but I have seen way bigger disasters in my time working on vessels than I did during this season. Throw anything at us, and we are always going to do our best. There’s nothing we can do if things go completely tits up. All we can do is keep our heads down and keep working.

I loved how clear you were with your interior team regarding actions and consequences. If they act like they don’t want to be there, you’re happy to see them off the boat. There will not be a repeat of last season.

It’s a privileged position to be on this vessel. It’s a privilege to be working alongside each other and to be on such a great charter. If you’re showing signs of not wanting to be here, then by all means, I help you pack. You’re not going to slow my team down and negate all our hard work. No, no, no, not this year.

Do you think the interior team heard you or was it in one ear and out the other?

A little bit of both [laughs]. At the end of the day, they knew who was in charge, and I was treated with respect from the majority of the girls. I think we know who the minority might be.

We might. Before I let you go, I do have to ask you about RHONY star Jill Zarin. What was it like having her as a charter guest?

That was one of the harder charters, if not the hardest. I’m going to leave it at that.

I’m not surprised to hear that. Lastly, what can you tease about the rest of the season?

It’s funny. As we were beginning to film Season 11, I thought they must have enough for a whole season of drama in the very early days of filming. That’s sort of the way it stayed for the rest of the season. Every single day something ridiculous or real crazy happened. I was like, “how is it still going on?” Everyone’s going to be on the edge of their seats throughout the entire season. I have no doubt. I’m quite excited to have a little bit of a love interest myself this year. I’ve always been a third wheel or the one left out, so it feels really good to get some attention…finally [laughs]!