Chef Rachel Hargrove Shares the Heartbreaking Story of Why She and Vincenzo Broke Up

In addition to all her fun — and sometimes fiery — moments this season of Below Deck, Chef Rachel Hargrove also got emotional while missing her boyfriend, Vincenzo, especially as the news about the coronavirus (COVID-19) became increasingly worrisome.

Rachel shared how she and Vincenzo were able to maintain a long distance relationship while she was away for the charter season in the Below Deck After Show, which you can view, above. 

"He doesn't work in yachting, and I work in yachting, and he was very, very understanding about the time away, understanding my career, respecting my career," Rachel recalled. "It was very difficult to be away from him and the uncertainty of everything. It's hard to be away from your partner that you love so much, but it also helps when that partner is very, very understanding and you keep that line of communication together. It really is important."

Unfortunately, Rachel confirmed during an appearance on the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen After Show last month that she and Vincenzo are no longer together. In fact, it was their time apart, which ultimately ended up being much longer than they anticipated, that contributed to the split, Rachel explained in the Below Deck After Show.

"We're not together. Yeah, it took us five months to get back together — well, to see each other again from the start of filming [Below Deck Season 8]," Rachel explained. "It took me 21 days at sea to get back to him, and before I knew it, it was done."

Instead of letting the breakup get her down, Rachel said that she is looking at it as an opportunity for a "clean start." "So, I said, you now what, c'est la vie. That's fine with me," Rachel said of her relationship with Vincenzo coming to an end. "If you're gonna do it, do it now before we're married and have children."

Things actually couldn't be going any better for Rachel in her new life in Italy. "It's actually been a wonderful experience. So nothing's been bad," she said. "I've got a beautiful little apartment I love. I'm here in a good area where I can work on boats. I'm signed onto a boat, so everything works out perfect."

And, of course, Rachel still has her optimism and signature sense of humor to help her get through anything. "You can't fall apart at the seams. You've got to keep a positive attitude," she shared. "I deal with everything with sarcasm, so I'm good to go [laughs]."

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See what's coming up in the Below Deck Season 8 finale, below.

Chef Rachel Hargrove Walks Out of Crew Dinner