Below Deck Mediterranean is just getting started, but there are already some crew members who are doing better than others aboard Mustique, leaving many wondering who’s the most likely to be fired this charter season. While there have been crews that are great from the start on the show in the past, the crew usually faces a bit of a learning curve coming onto a new superyacht. With Captain Sandy Yawn at the helm, that can sometimes be difficult to account for, though the Captain does tend to be fair about mistakes on the first charter of the season.

Although Captain Sandy screens all of the crew members’ qualifications coming into a new charter season, she’s always clear about the level of work she expects. The Captain is firm – she understands that there are mistakes that happen to even the best of crew members, but she doesn’t want repeated mistakes. Instead, she’s clear that she hopes her crew members learn from the mistakes they make aboard the superyacht, and if they need help, they come to her directly on Below Deck Mediterranean season 9.

Throughout the years, Below Deck crews have had some major issues during their opening charters. From crew members’ documentation not being validated and the crew being down staff members to issues with provisions or mechanics, the Below Deck franchise has seen nearly everything possible in the world of superyachting. While Below Deck Mediterranean season 9’s crew dealt with some big issues during their premiere episode, they were hardly as bad as they could’ve been. Despite having less of a struggle than other crews, there were still some issues that needed to be resolved moving forward.

With a crew comprised of a somewhat smaller interior team than the franchise is typically used to, the stews struggled to deal with the demands of the charter guests without there being enough provisions aboard Mustique. Though the crew was promised a delivery of alcohol, particularly wine, several times throughout the premiere episode, the provisioner didn’t follow through, and the charter guests were left without the wine that they wanted. As the crew tried to reassure the charter guests that they’d have wine on hand soon, it was clear they weren’t happy.

Captain Sandy, who’s particularly very straightforward about what she wants, struggled to communicate with the provisioner about their mistake, especially when an order of wine came in that didn’t have the majority of the alcohol they needed. With Sandy, returning Chief Stew Aesha Scott, and the rest of the interior team having to deal with the attitude of the guests about the lack of alcohol, tensions were on the rise during Below Deck Mediterranean season 9’s premiere. As the crew was feeling the tension, it became clear who was struggling and who could handle the pressure.

9

Sandy Yawn

Captain

Outside of the fact that Captain Sandy is the leader of the Mustique’s crew and wouldn’t fire herself, it’s unlikely that the Captain will make a mistake big enough to warrant her departure from the superyacht. Throughout her decades of work in the yachting industry, Captain Sandy has gained a level of experience that many yachties could only dream of. Though she has her own issues getting along with her crew at times, she’s a fair and even-keeled Captain who is merely looking for a high level of work.

Throughout her time in the Below Deck franchise, Captain Sandy has had a hand in more than one of the shows on the air. Though she primarily works as the Captain on Below Deck Mediterranean, she’s filled in on the original Below Deck for Captain Lee Rosbach. With an illustrious career backing her up, it would be a shock to Captain Sandy removed from her post.

8

Aesha Scott

Chief Stew

Chief Stew Aesha was originally a part of early seasons of Below Deck Mediterranean, but her time on the series hasn’t been consistent. After appearing most recently on Below Deck Mediterranean season 5, Aesha took some time to pursue other avenues of her career, improving her skills as a stew before coming back to the franchise. When Aesha returned to Below Deck, it wasn’t on her original series, but on Below Deck Down Under with Captain Jason Chambers. Working as the Chief Stew, she shared how much she’d grown since viewers had last seen her.

Though Aesha realizes there’s always room for improvement, her time as Chief Stew aboard Northern Sun during Below Deck Down Under season 2 has likely prepared her for anything that the Below Deck Med crew can throw at her. After having to deal with a very delicate situation involving sexual misconduct, Aesha has seen some of the most difficult things that can be thrown at a Chief Stew. While it’s possible she could make a mistake and be fired, it’s incredibly unlikely.

7

Iain Maclean

Bosun

Although there hasn’t been much shown of Bosun Iain Maclean, his time aboard Mustique seems like it will be a success. The new Bosun shared his philosophies and qualifications with Captain Sandy during the Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 premiere, and while he’s definitely more laid back than the Captain, it’s clear he knows what he’s doing aboard a superyacht. With five years in the yachting industry, Iain knows how to deal with some of the most complicated technical issues that could arise.

During his initial meeting with Captain Sandy, Iain seemed like he was confident in his abilities working with the exterior of the superyacht. Though we haven’t seen much with his skills as a leader, Iain will likely be able to work well with the rest of the exterior team and lead them through a successful charter. It doesn’t seem likely at this point that Iain will be fired by Captain Sandy.

6

Joe Bradley

Deckhand

Below Deck Mediterranean hasn’t shown much of Deckhand Joe Bradley just yet, but his work ethic seems to be something that both Captain Sandy and Bosun Iain are impressed with. Joe, who is originally from Spain, has a few years in the yachting industry and appears to know what he’s doing aboard a superyacht. His job appears to come naturally to him, and as he shared during the Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 premiere, he enjoys his time working on the exterior team.

Joe does seem like he’s newer to the industry in the way he works and the relationships he’s making aboard Mustique, which means he could wind up involved in some drama aboard the superyacht. Though Joe appears level-headed, there’s still time for the Deckhand’s attitude to change. Though it’s not likely he’ll be fired during his time on Below Deck Mediterranean, it’s definitely possible.

5

Gael Cameron

Deckhand

Throughout the premiere episode of Below Deck Mediterranean season 9, Gael Cameron explained where she’s at in her life as she starts the adventure of a lifetime on Mustique. While Gael came to the superyacht in a relationship, she didn’t sound certain about the future of her relationship, explaining that she’s only been with her boyfriend for five months, and doesn’t entirely know how to navigate being in a long-distance yachtie-to-yachtie relationship. Surprising the rest of the exterior team, Deckhand Gael was ready to take on the challenge of the exterior.

While Gael’s work hasn’t come to be an issue as of yet, her personal life does seem to be a topic of conversation aboard Mustique throughout the season. In the initial trailer for Below Deck Mediterranean, Gael and fellow Deckhand Nathan Gallager seem to be in some sort of flirtation, but it may go further in the coming episodes of the show. Even though Gael’s in a relationship, a potential boatmance may rock the Mustique too much for her to stay aboard.

4

Nathan Gallager

Deckhand

With just two years in the yachting industry, Deckhand Nathan seems to be one of the yachties who knows the most about the Mustique and what he needs to do to keep her moving. Though he’s not a high-level yachtie, he’s got a lot of knowledge and seems excited to be taking on the opportunity to work aboard the superyacht. Impressing Bosun Iain and Captain Sandy during the premiere episode of Below Deck Mediterranean, Nathan’s work ethic may not be the issue with his time aboard Mustique.

Though he’s been working hard aboard Mustique so far, his relationship with Gael may cause him issues aboard the superyacht. Nathan is single, but his flirtation with Gael could negatively interfere with his work. Only time will tell if he appears to have issues on Below Deck Mediterranean, or if he’ll be able to manage a potential boatmance on top of his job.

3

Elena Dubaich

Stew

Having appeared on Below Deck Mediterranean in the past, Returning Stew Elena Dubaich is hoping that her second season of the series will help her improve her career. Elena has a great work ethic, but lacks the necessary experience aboard a superyacht that does private charters to make her job entirely smooth sailing. Though she’s worked with Captain Sandy in the past, her time on Below Deck Med season 9 may not end successfully.

Though Elena did well during the premiere episode of Below Deck Mediterranean season 9, she ended the episode causing an issue with the chef aboard Mustique. Elena was dealing with the charter guests late at night, but wasn’t sure about fulfilling the requests they had for late night snacks. If issues continue between Elena and the chef, it could cause her to have to deal with Captain Sandy.

2

Johnathan “Jono” Shillingford

Chef

While Elena has her own issues with Chef Johnathan “Jono” Shillingford, his problems aboard the Mustique may be even worse than the Stew. Jono is an experienced chef who has years of experience working aboard superyachts, but dealing with the style of charter guests who travel on Below Deck Mediterranean may not be something he’s used to dealing with. Though Jono’s food seems to be appealing to the guests thus far, his attitude has been difficult for the rest of the crew to handle.

After being woken up by Elena, Jono refused to get out of bed to help her with the late night snacks the charter guests had requested. Though it was after Jono’s shift had ended, it was on the preference sheet that the guests would be looking for snacks well after their dinner was served. Despite knowing that this would be a request, Jono didn’t want to cooperate, which could cause him issues in the future.

1

Bri Muller

Stew

Although she claims to have yachting experience under her belt, new Stew Bri Muller struggled through the first episode of Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 so much that many wondered what sort of experience she came into the show with, if any at all. Bri shared that in her three years of yachting, she’s never finished a charter season on a superyacht. While that’s not the most promising, Bri hoped her performance would be good enough to keep her aboard Mustique for the foreseeable future.

During Bri’s first shift, she was tasked with taking care of the interior and handling the laundry for the guests. While it was a simple task from Aesha’s perspective, Bri struggled through pressing the clothes and wasn’t sure what, exactly, she was supposed to do. Despite getting instructions, Bri continuously messed up the laundry, taking hours to return items to the charter guests. If her performance continues the way it was in the Below Deck Mediterranean season premiere, Bri will likely be fired from the superyacht.

Sources: Joe Bradley/Instagram, Bravo/Instagram