The Bosun is a key role on Below Deck. They lead the deck team, work closely with the captain, and show why they are crucial to the yacht. This season on Below Deck Mediterranean, Bosun Iain Maclean seems almost absent. He hasn’t been cut from the show due to bad behavior; he just seems less important in this season’s story.
Below Deck Mediterranean is a popular spinoff of the original show. Now in its 9th season, it features beautiful locations and dramatic moments from the lives of the yacht crew. This season, the yacht Mustique is cruising through Greece. As the charter season ends, it’s unclear if Iain Maclean will be there to celebrate.
When Season 9 began, Captain Sandy Yawn had a new crew, with one returning friend. Aesha Scott, who had been a stew before, was now in a managerial role. For Captain Sandy, this season meant new department heads. Iain Maclean, from South Africa with five years of experience, was chosen as Bosun. Fans thought he might not last long with Captain Sandy.
Early in the season, Captain Sandy noticed Iain seemed lazy. His team, including Joe Bradley, Nathan Gallagher, and Gael Cameron, often pointed out his mistakes. He struggled with communication and almost left guests and a crew member stranded. Some fans thought Iain and Chef Jono Shillingford would be let go early, but both stayed.
Iain’s biggest decision was making Joe Bradley Lead Deckhand, who performed better. Since then, Iain has rarely appeared on camera. Even if Captain Sandy and his team see him as lazy, nothing majorly wrong happened on camera. Maybe Iain is just doing his job, and that’s not a bad thing.
This season has focused on personal drama rather than deck action. Nathan Gallagher and Gael Cameron’s romance has been a key story, despite the heartbreak it caused. There is also a feud between Elena Dubaich and Bri Muller, both trying to outdo each other and win over Joe Bradley.
Carrie O’Neill’s arrival has added to the drama. In this mix, Iain’s role seems minimal. Captain Sandy is focused on her own tasks, Chief Stew Aesha Scott isn’t looking for love, and Chef Jono has his own romance. Iain’s lack of drama makes him less visible on reality TV.
In the second-to-last episode, Iain got to lead a land excursion. He guided a tour of the Temple of Poseidon, showing his knowledge of the site. It was his main moment of the season.
Earlier, Iain made a rare appearance in a confessional where he noted, “Docking at nighttime is different from docking during the day. Because it’s nighttime.” It was a humorous but obvious comment. Will this be what he’s remembered for? Maybe communication is one of his weaker areas.
It’s possible he was edited out or just didn’t have much to show. His Instagram doesn’t mention his role on the show. Iain Maclean is one of the least-seen Bosuns in the show’s history. It’s disappointing he wasn’t more involved in the season’s story. New episodes of Below Deck Mediterranean air Mondays at 9:00 pm on Bravo and are available on Peacock.
Iain Maclean’s subdued role this season of Below Deck Mediterranean underscores his minimal impact on the show’s drama. While other crew members have generated significant buzz with their personal conflicts and dramatic moments, Iain’s presence has been largely inconspicuous.
Despite being a key position on the yacht, his contributions have not been prominently featured, leaving viewers with little sense of his influence on the charter season. Whether due to editing choices or a quieter performance, Iain’s role highlights a departure from the typical high-drama expectations associated with the series, focusing instead on the more turbulent aspects of his fellow crew members.
