Summary
Below Deck Mediterraneanseason 9 is just getting started, but thefirst boatmance of the season between Gael Cameron and Nathan Gallagher is heating up, and is potentially crossing a line on Gael’s side. Throughout the history ofBelow Deck, the boatmances have caused some of the most drama, and been at the center of some of the most interesting moments. Though it’s easy for the yachties to fall into each other’s bunks, keeping things afloat has been tricky throughout the franchise. While some boatmances work out, likeBen Willoughby and Sunny Marquis’ fromBelow Deckseason 11, others fail.
There have been some complicated boatmances inBelow Deckhistory, and the situation between Gael and Nathan onBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9definitely falls into the category. Both Gael and Nathan are working on the exterior crew, which is being managed by Bosun Iain Maclean, and their connection could cause trouble for the team. On top of the fact that the yachties are assigned to the same area of the superyacht,there are some ties back at home that leave their boatmance on the precipice of ruin. Only time will tell if Nathan and Gael will make things work.

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Gael Came Into Below Deck Med With A Long Distance Boyfriend
Her Relationship Was Still New
Early on in thepremiere ofBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9, Gael was introduced to the rest of the exterior team. Nathan, who had already been introduced to Iain and Joe Bradley, was clearly interested in the Australian beauty upon their very first interaction. The pair were only introduced quickly, butit was clear from the start there were sparks between them, despite what they had going on back at home.
Gael shared in an interview segment that she was in a relationship with another yachtie, which is common for those who dedicate their lives to the sea. In the interview,Gael revealed that she and her boyfriend met on a different yachtwhere they were both working, and have only been together for five months. Though she was happy for the relationship, she explained that long-distance hasn’t been an easy thing for her and her boyfriend to deal with.Gael shared her relationship statuswith the rest of the exterior crew early on, hoping to avoid any miscommunication.

Nathan Found Gael Attractive From Day One
The Deckhands Were Connected Quickly
While Gael was someone that both Nathan and Joe were attracted to,Nathan’s connection to his fellow Deckhandwas strong from early on in their relationship. After getting to know the rest of the crew, the exterior team got to work and while they were cleaning the decks,Nathan and Gael came to realize that they shared a few things in common. Nathan, originally from Ireland, discovered that Gael’s family had Irish roots.
The pair bonded over their Irish families, sharing stories and telling jokes that made it clear they were going to get along well. Though they weren’t able to go in depth with their conversation at first, the fact that they were able to bond over their shared heritage was interesting to see.Nathan, who understood that Gael had a relationship back home,was clearly invested in getting to know his fellow Deckhand better.The pair made it clear that they were interested, even if wasn’t smart for either of them.

Gael & Her Boyfriend Have Been Struggling To Stay Together
Long Distance Can Be Quite Difficult
While Gael’s relationship is fairly new, the couple are already experiencing some issues from the nature of their work. Gael didn’t share where her boyfriend is from or where he’s been working, but the fact that she’s on the Mustiqueworking for Captain Sandyensures that she’s not physically present in his life during the charter season. Though the pair are able to keep contact on the phone,their relationship has some immediate roadblocks because of the distance.
Gael shared during one of her interview segments that being long distance has been difficult from the start. Though she met her boyfriend on another superyacht and they understand each other’s jobs,it hasn’t been easy for them to figure out how to talk, when, and coordinate their schedulesso they can keep connected. Although both have been trying to keep their relationship going smoothly, it’s definitely more effort for the yachties to be able to stay connected while they’re working a charter.

Nathan & Gael Used An Inside Joke To Sneak Around
Their Joke About Strawberries Was Transparent
While Gael has a long distance boyfriend, herconnection with Nathan quickly felt undeniableafter a short time aboard Mustique. During the first crew night out, Nathan and Gael were able to get some more time to talk one-on-one, which pushed them into a flirtier space in their relationship. The pair spent their time out for the night together, and when they got back to Mustiqueit became clear toBelow Deck Mediterraneanviewers that there was more going on than they realizedat first.
When the crew arrived back at Mustique and boarded the superyacht, Nathan and Gael began talking about the idea of going down to the galley to get a strawberry. They’d shared the inside joke earlier in the episode, talking about strawberries they’d seen in the kitchen during earlier service, and both seemed to find something funny about it. When they got back from the night out, Gael asked if they could go find a strawberry together, and thenthe pair both discussed finding somewhere they could talk without the cameras seeing them.

Is Gael’s Flirty Boatmance With Nathan Crossing A Line?
It May Be Less Of An Issue Than It Appears
While what Gael does outside of her relationship is her own business and there may be something in place around flirting with other people in her relationship, it appears that the nature of her friendship with Nathan may be more than she bargained for.Gael and Nathan have expressed attraction for one anotherthroughout the first charter, and made it clear that they want something more without acting on it. WhileBelow Deck Meddidn’t reveal what happenedafter the pair snuck around, it doesn’t seem difficult to guess that things turned romantic.
With Gael in a relationship, it’s likely that the pair’s connection isn’t the most appropriate, at least not in a way her long distance boyfriend would approve of. Thoughthe pair’s potential boatmance would already possibly cause issues for the exterior team, the fact that Gael would be stepping out on her relationship to hook up with Nathan is an issue in itself. AsBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9 continues, viewers will get to judge for themselves if the boatmance crosses the line.
Below Deck Mediterraneanairs Mondays on Bravo at 9 p.m. EDT, then streams the following day on Peacock.
Below Deck Mediterranean
Cast
Below Deck Mediterranean is a Bravo reality television series that follows a crew that works aboard a gigantic superyacht during the busy season. The show highlights the challenges of the crew as they serve their high-end clientele. Each season tackles new locations, such as Greece, Croatia, Italy, and France, with some repeating.