Captain Jason is a solid, reputable captain, and he's helmed the ship on all three seasons of Below Deck Down Under since it premiered in 2022. Captains have the toughest job on a motor yacht, as they are the leaders and responsible for everything that happens on their watch. Not only are they driving the boat, they're also managing the interior and exterior of the ship.

One of Captain Jason's favorite gimmicks is that, at the end of every tip meeting, he awards a disco helmet to the crew member who made the most mistakes. The unlucky crew member must then wear the helmet on a crew night out. The helmet, a literal helmet adorned with disco mirrors, is meant to be a lighthearted disciplinary maneuver, but it's always rubbed me the wrong way. Pointing out someone's flaws publicly is a way to shame them and humiliate them, and the disco helmet trick does just that to the unlucky crew member who has to wear it.

Captain Jason Makes The Worst Performing Crew Member Wear A Disco Helmet

It's Meant To Be Silly

Captain Jason and his disco helmet have been a fixture on Below Deck Down Under throughout all of its seasons. In an interview with Showbiz CheatSheet, Captain Jason elaborated on the origin of the disco helmet, and the reason he employs it on charters. He has a long history with the disco helmet, and originally, he said it was used as a way to get guests excited about their trips. Captain Jason said that, on a cruise in Indonesia, they had a helicopter hangar on the ship, and they would have parties in the hangar.

"We used to have a few little parties in the hangar. We had a smoke machine and music players and stuff. So we said, 'We need a mirrorball.' And one of my deckhands came back from his time off with a helmet, and we made a mirrorball helmet. And that mirrorball helmet got handed down to three or four people over the years."

Captain Jason said that the purpose of handing out the disco helmet to the weakest-performing crew member isn't to shame them, it's to keep things transparent on the ship. Captain Jason, an Australia native, even referred to the disco helmet as "a badge of honor" and said that his use of it is "good Aussie humor." I suppose it's similar to the idea of getting roasted on Saturday Night Live. It's an honor, yet, there's still a bit of negativity surrounding it. If you have a good sense of humor, it won't bother you.

It's a slightly different situation on Below Deck Down Under, since it's a professional environment, and the crowning of the disco helmet comes in front of all of your colleagues on the ship. While it might do the trick in motivating crew to step up, it comes at the expense of the crew member's pride. I'm just not sure it is worth it, in the end.

Captain Jason’s Disco Helmet Gimmick Creates Unnecessary Anxiety

It's Embarrassing

While most of the time, the crowning of the disco helmet is met with lighthearted laughter and cheers, as shown in a TikTok shared by Below Deck Down Under season 3, for instance, when Chief Stew Lara Rigby was awarded the helmet after miscommunication with the captain, she lamented that wearing the helmet was "super embarrassing." Lara retreated to her cabin and cried after receiving the helmet, taking it as a sign that Captain Jason didn't like her. Even Captain Jason remarked under his breath that Lara didn't take receiving the helmet well.

In a Below Deck Reddit discussion page, a who goes by unimami pointed out how upsetting Captain Jason's use of the disco helmet is, writing, "Seems a bit unsettling and damaging to crew morale for me, but I'm curious what everyone's thoughts are on it as a managerial tactic? Are you for, or against it? It is all just in good humour or more damaging than that?" Commenters took both sides, with some like thatsmyopinion_ saying, "I don't like the helmet. I think it is degrading and doesn't teach anyone anything, other than opening the door up to resentment."

Others, like a who goes by rickmon67, defended Captain Jason's tactic, saying, "I think Jason is a great team leader who isn’t afraid to step in to help rather than just hanging out in the wheelhouse. I’m old so I get the hazing with the disco helmet. It’s weird, it’s gaudy but it’s meant to be an inspiration to do better without the cruel intentions like a dunce cap."

The comparison to a dunce cap is apt, as the helmet is meant to publicly identify the weakest link on the crew. Even though some might not take it seriously, others do, and it can have a real impact on the morale of the boat. It can create a toxic environment, and when you're working on a crew of a superyacht in remote locales, that isn't ideal.

Captain Jason Shouldn’t Point Out Mistakes So Publicly

The Disco Helmet Can Ruin Morale

I understand Jason's sentiments regarding the use of the disco helmet. There's a tradition to it, and he framed it as something to be proud of in a way. Captain Jason's love of a gimmick is well known. One need only look to his Captain's Lounge shtick from earlier in the season. Still, I can't help but feel like it's not appropriate to signal to the group that one person is lacking. It puts a target on their back, and rather than giving them the motivation to improve, it can humiliate them to be singled out.

I don't think this is an effective leadership strategy, and I'm concerned that the helmet will cause undo anxiety to the crew.

In an interview with Chattr.com.au, Captain Jason again said that the helmet was meant in good fun, and it was meant to inspire the crew to strive to not be the one wearing it. He said he has gotten some pushback on the unconventional maneuver, but he maintained that the helmet isn't meant to belittle the crew. Instead, Captain Jason believes the use of the disco helmet is a way to inspire a higher standard of work.

"I get a little bit of flack here and there, but I get more positive than not. It's an Australian culture thing. I could sit there and reprimand someone in front of everyone about what they do but, it’s like a little kick up the butt and get into it… I'm showing what you did wrong. But I'm not going to make it into a point to embarrass you, verbally. I'll embarrass you with that helmet!" Captain Jason's words seem slightly hypocritical, since he said it's not meant to embarrass, but then says he "will embarrass" crew with the helmet.

It's true that most of the time, the crew has a good attitude about the disco helmet. Some even seem to like it, like Chef Tzarina Mace Ralph in Below Deck Down Under season 2. She was awarded the helmet after a few kitchen mishaps on a particular charter, and she joked about how she'd rather it be on a ring from Captain Jason. Some are game to proudly wear it on their crew night out, which does take a little bit the sting out of receiving the helmet.

Still, I think Captain Jason should rethink his methodology on the disco helmet. Yes, it's funny and lighthearted, but underneath that, it could cause bullying among the crew. It makes something that could be a private issue with a particular crew member a public matter, and it might even serve to undermine serious issues on the yacht. All in all, I trust that Captain Jason knows what he's doing, but I think he might want to reconsider the public shaming aspect of the disco helmet.

Below Deck Down Under airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EDT on Bravo.

Source: Showbiz CheatSheet, Bravo/TikTok, Below Deck/Reddit, unimami/Reddit, thatsmyopinion_/Reddit, rickmon67/Reddit, Chattr.com.au