Below Deck star to appear at Southampton Boat Show

Captain Glenn Shephard trained at Warsash before starring in the E4 series Below Deck Sailing Yacht.

Part of the larger Below Deck franchise, the reality TV show focuses on the crew and guests onboard a luxury 177-foot sailing yacht and offers a glimpse into the glamorous and often dramatic life at sea.

The 63-year-old will open the Southampton International Boat Show where he will hold a question and answer session as well as a meet and greet for fans.

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Before being involved in the show, Glenn, originally from Montreal in Canada, discovered his passion for sailing when travelling around Europe in the 80s.

During this time, he met a man looking someone for someone to be an unpaid deckhand on his boat.

Although initially he didn’t know whether to pursue it as a career, he went to a boat show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and eventually became part of a yacht crew.

He went to train to become a captain and did some of his training in Warsash.

For the past 13 years, he has served as the Captain of Parsifal III, a 177-foot sailing yacht, now featured on the reality show.

He said: “I spent a lot of time [at Warsash] as my captain certificate is a UK certificate. I did a lot of study at Warsash and preparation such as oral exams and different stages and that was all done in Southampton.”

In 2019, following the success of the first show Below Deck in the British Virgin Islands, work started on a Sailing Yach spin-off.

He was put into contact with the production team and offered to help find a vessel to feature in the show, which turned out to be his own.

Speaking about how he felt when it looked like he would be part of the show, he said:  “I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it, I wanted to get business for the boss when I suggested the boat.”

The new look layout for Southampton International Boat Show 2024 (Image: Supplied)

He ended up agreeing to be part of the show and now in its fourth season, he is returning to the city for the opening of the international show on September 13 where he will hold a Q&A on the Foredeck Stage and meet and greet for fans.

He said: “I am really excited to be going to the boat show now. I will be there on opening day and will be doing a Q&A and then right after that I will do a meet and greet. I am so excited to be coming to show, I love that it's in the water and I am a massive boat nerd.”

Tickets include a glass of bubbles, a chance to ask questions, and a signed personal memento to take home.