Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 bosun Iain Maclean is stirring up trouble with his crewmates and his boss. Iain narrowly avoided catastrophe when he made several noticeable errors aboard the superyacht, Mustique. His leadership style, or lack thereof, left a bad impression on his fellow deckhands. As season 9 progresses, Iain runs the risk of becoming the show’s villain.
Iain, who, according to Bravo, has five years of experience on yachts, was appointed bosun by Below Deck Mediterranean’s Captain Sandy Yawn. The bosun oversees the deck crew, and the position requires excellent leadership and boating expertise. Iain manages a crew that includes deckhands Gael Cameron, Nathan Gallagher, and Joe Bradley. Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 is set along the stunning coast of Greece.
Iain Allowed A Guest To Nearly Get Lost While Paddleboarding
Sandy Was Unimpressed By Iain’s Carelessness
Iain’s first misstep was allowing a guest to drift dangerously far away while paddleboarding. Nathan and the guest got caught in a strong current and were unable to paddle back to the boat. The situation escalated when nobody on the Mustique noticed they had not returned. Iain had told Gael to take her break while the other deckhand, Joe, was in the water on a jet ski. Eventually, Nathan and the guest were picked up by a catamaran – they returned to the Mustique.
The memorable and iconic Sandy had a harsh reaction to the incident, placing the blame squarely on Iain. As bosun, he should have been overseeing the water activities and ensuring all guests were accounted for. She said the guest’s rescue by another boat made the crew “look like amateurs.” The incident put Iain’s management style under heightened scrutiny.
Iain’s Poor Communication Left The Crew Scrambling On Beach Day
His Management Threatened To Ruin The Day For The Crew And Guests
Iain’s second failure on Below Deck Mediterranean escaped Sandy’s notice, but it soured his relationship with the other deckhands. The crew planned a beach day for the charter guests, complete with games and a picnic lunch. The deck crew was responsible for getting the beach prepared prior to the guests’ arrival. Sandy specifically told Iain to set up at the beach, then return to the Mustique. Iain replied in the affirmative, but he misinterpreted Sandy’s directions.
Iain created an even bigger disaster when he failed to communicate that he was on his way back to the beach with the guests.
Rather than helping with the setup, Iain dropped the deck crew off at the beach with an enormous load of supplies and offered no help transporting everything to the location. He instead immediately returned to the Mustique as the deck crew scrambled. They fell behind on their preparations, and Iain created an even bigger disaster when he failed to communicate that he was on his way back to the beach with the guests. The guests subsequently arrived before everything was arranged, to the embarrassment of the crew. Joe was critical of Iain, saying there was “no leadership at all.”
Iain also failed to adequately plan for the guests’ beach games, believing the guests would plan the events themselves. He even discouraged Gael when she attempted to prepare. This added yet another stressor for the overwhelmed crew. Luckily for Iain, his team covered for him, not revealing his faulty leadership to Sandy. Although he escaped discipline for his carelessness, the beach day turned the deck crew against Iain. Their attitudes shifted noticeably, and they were suddenly cautious about taking instructions from somebody who had acted so thoughtlessly.
Iain Has Not Been Receptive To Feedback
His Failure To Learn From His Mistakes Means He Has Little Chance Of Improving
Iain’s errors would not have been as detrimental if he had taken responsibility and sought to change his habits. Instead, he ignored the criticism, showing no signs of growth. He brushed off the irreplaceable Aesha’s attempts to guide him, and he was dismissive of Gael when she voiced her concerns. This attitude is what puts Iain into villain territory. He seems unfazed by making the deck crew’s life more difficult with his actions, while avoiding owning up to his own shortcomings.
Although their interactions have so far been cordial, he has not built the close bonds that are seen between the other deckhands and stewards.
Iain’s role as the villain is further solidified by his lack of close relationships within the crew. Although their interactions have so far been cordial, he has not built the close bonds that are seen between the other deckhands and stewards. This will result in Iain becoming isolated, especially as his attitude pushes his coworkers further away. As the crew becomes more skeptical of his management, their respect for him dwindles.
Although Below Deck Mediterranean is still early in the season, Iain’s repeated errors and lack of accountability don’t bode well. If he does not take the advice of Sandy and the crew, he will further alienate himself from the rest of the cast, or even risk being fired. Iain needs to swallow his pride and own up to his mistakes if he wants to escape being labeled the villain of season 9.
