In Below Deck Mediterranean Season 9, Episode 3, Gael Cameron is trying to be a sneaky link and meet fellow deckhand Nathan Gallagher somewhere private so that they can rock the boat but she gets caught by a cameraman. She tells him that she’s just “getting water.” Okurrrr.
She then comes to her senses and texts Nathan that she’s going to bed. Cheating crisis averted … for now.
“I’m still in a relationship and I feel like I am definitely having stronger feelings than I need to have in this moment,” Gael tells the cameras. Cut to Nathan crawling out of a small crawlspace that is the bosun’s locker looking like Harry Potter when he lived with the Dursleys. Not hot, Nathan.
The next morning, Captain Sandy Yawn is trying to get a handle on the provisioning mess. Meanwhile, the crew is all hungover. Gael calls her boyfriend and tells him that after they all went out, she showered and went to sleep. What she failed to tell him is that she almost hooked up with her crewmate.
While they’re getting ready for the next charter guests, Elena Dubaich wants to teach Bri Muller everything she knows about being a stew. She whips out her phone to time Bri on bedmaking.
“I’ve only been in the industry for two years. I know my place, I know I’m the baby,” Bri tells the cameras. In her own confessional, Elena says, “She’s like a baby giraffe.
Jono Shillingford is nervous about the preference sheet
The “Below Deck Mediterranean” crew is expecting Puerto Rican former pro tennis player Gigi Fernandez, who won two gold medals in the Olympics. She’s friendly with Sandy, having been her client in Season 7.
Sandy tells Chef Jono Shillingford that Gigi will want nothing but the best when it comes to food, which is not a lie after Rachel Hargrove was her chef back then.
One of the guests, Julie wants no mayo or meat, other than chicken and is allergic to gluten. Another guest Roberta doesn’t want any seafood while the others are seafood lovers.
Jono already starts doubting himself. “I don’t know if I really have that much exposure to a group having this many varying preferences. I’ve never worked at a restaurant. I have an Olympian with high-end taste coming aboard. It’s a lot of pressure,” he tells the cameras. “Sometimes, I don’t even feel like a chef.”
Bri Muller and Elena Dubaich both like Joe Bradley
The provisions come with actual provisions so the whole crew is relieved. When the guests come, the boat is all stocked and ready for cucumber cocktails for them to imbibe.
Bri is on a break and has a flirty conversation with deckhand Joe Bradley about her tattoos. When she’s chilling in her cabin, she asks Elena for advice on how to seduce a man. Elena asks if it’s for Joe and Bri says, “No, just in general.”
However, in a confessional, Bri admits she has the hots for Joe while Elena also shares separately, “I definitely have chemistry with Joe.”
In the cabin, they promise to be each other’s wing woman, which doesn’t exactly work if they’re vying for the same person.
The Below Deck Mediterranean crew slips up
Jono has prepared a Mexican-style lunch and is hoping to bring all the flavors. He’s spicing it up in the kitchen and has prepared rice, fish tacos, veggie tacos, grilled mushrooms, etc.
Unfortunately, he overdid it with the spices and the guests think the taste is overwhelming. “It’s not Rachel good, but it’s good,” one says.
After lunch, the guests engage in some water sports. Laura asks Nathan to go paddleboarding with her and he gets Bosun Iain Maclean’s permission to do so.
They go a bit too far away from the boat and the current is taking them in the opposite direction. “So yeah, we’re stuck at sea,” Nathan says in a confessional.
Everyone’s concerned about them but a catamaran picks Laura and Nathan up to bring them back to Mustique. Sandy is embarrassed and tells Iain that he should always look after the guests and follow them in a tender when they’re in the Mediterranean water.
Iain tries to make it seem like it’s not his fault because he was getting the water toys ready but Gael tells the cameras that he’s the one who told her to take a break, leaving Joe on deck by himself. Looks like a mutiny is afoot.
Chicken is for plebians
The guests have requested a toga party, which is fitting as they’re in the Mediterranean. Chief Stew Aesha Scott wants to do synchronized plating and have Sandy be involved.
For the main course, Jono has made a “seared chicken breast in a coconut lemon sauce.” Doesn’t sound very Greek. Or five-star. Sandy looks unimpressed. Where are the paninis?
“Gigi has traveled the world. She has dined in some of the finest restaurants. Chicken is really not something you serve on a superyacht,” Sandy tells the cameras.
The guests are sportsmanlike and one says, “We’ll go with it.” Another says, “We’ll try to do it.” They’re all very quiet while they eat their chicken, which is not a good indication. There’s no, “Yummmm,” or “Oooooh.” They’re all too polite to complain and tell Aesha that the peasant food is fine.
Next comes dessert which is chocolate sponge cake with a scoop of sorbet. COME ON NOW, JONO. “Sponge cake! It’s the most boring out of all the cakes!” Aesha exclaims to the cameras. “This is like poop on a platter.” What is this, IHOP?
The guests’ reviews are: “It’s pretty unusual.” “I saw chocolate and got excited.” “It could be more chocolatey.” Aesha sees their tip sinking away.
Aesha Scott tries to distract the guests with a toga party
The guests and “Below Deck Mediterranean” crew come together to compete in a toga-making competition with bedsheets and other accroutements.
They decide they want huevos rancheros for breakfast tomorrow and decide on 8:30 am as the breakfast time. Jono gets up to prepare said breakfast but lo and behold, no one is up.
After over an hour and a half, the guests are ready for breakfast and sit down. Upon eating, Gigi says, “Aesha, my egg is completely cold. If you can just bring an egg that’s hot, everything else is completely fine.”
Gigi goes to the bridge to say hi to Sandy, who asks how breakfast was. Gigi tells her that her eggs were cold and that the guests don’t want to complain. However, she brings up dinner last night and says, “Chef’s choice, and this is what you give us?”
The chocolate cake and lunch weren’t any better. “I have a high standard,” Gigi says. Sandy completely agrees and calls Jono to the bridge. He’s either going to have to step it up or get axed.
