Love triangles are a recurring occurrence on Below Deck, often causing conflicts and drama among the crew members. Some of the most memorable include Luka, Natalya, and Jessika, Brooke, Kasey, and João, and Daisy, Colin, and Gary.
Since the inception of the Below Deck franchise, viewers have been treated to several captivating love triangles between cast members. The series is known for its ability to create intense and unexpected relationships, often leading to conflicts and drama. While the crew members are confined to a boat for extended periods, their proximity and limited interaction create an opportunity for meaningful connections to develop. However, the potential for love triangles can also lead to challenges and complicate the dynamics of the show.
Below Deck cast members refer to these romantic dalliances onboard as "boatmances." They don't usually last longer than a season and sometimes end halfway through. Boatmances are quite popular on Below Deck, and there is usually at least one per season. One of the most memorable boatmances was between Danielle Soares and Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux from Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2. What made them so memorable was what happened in the off-season, which was when Danielle became pregnant and welcomed Jean-Luc's daughter. While their boatmance was a whirlwind, at least they weren't caught in a love triangle.
At the start of Below Deck season 10, Deckhand Ben Willoughby fell for Deckhand/Steward Camille Lamb, and the two began hooking up right away. Ben was always the one Camille would go to whenever she had an issue with the interior team and enjoyed his company overall. Ben felt a closeness to Camille as well and was devastated when she was fired from the boat.
However, after Camille left, Leigh-Ann Smith arrived, whom Ben had met via a dating app a year ago. He was left confused about his relationship with Camile after Leigh-Ann arrived, as he still had feelings for Leigh-Ann. Nonetheless, Ben and Camille reconnected after filming but ended things shortly after.
Bosun Ross McHarg developed a romantic bond with his fellow deckhand Katie Glaser early in Below Deck season 10. While the pair often fought about their complex relationship, they always seemed to gravitate towards one another. However, their relationship was strained when Steward Alissa Humber began flirting with Ross. This obviously made Katie angry, but it didn't stop her from continuing to hook up with Ross until the end of the season.
During Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 3, Gary King hooked up with one of the stews, Ashley Marti. Their relationship began early on and continued until the end of the season. However, midway through their relationship, fellow stew Gabriela Barragan made a move on Gary, leading to conflict between the two. Despite Gabriela's initial interest, she eventually decided to let Ashley have him.
When Below Deck Mediterranean Season 3 began, Bosun João Franco had a connection with stew Kasey Cohen right away. It seemed like there was mutual interest between them, especially from João. However, he had a change of heart suddenly when he was paired with fellow stew Brooke Laughton as they both showed interest in him. João and Brooke became closer and closer, but he would still flirt with Kasey sometimes. Brooke finally had enough and asked João to choose between her and Kasey. He chose Brooke in the end but did admit during the reunion that he still had feelings for Kasey.
During Below Deck Mediterranean Season 8, Natalya, And Jessika were quick to fall for new stew Marco Pierre after she arrived on board. The two had an instant connection and started hooking up following the crew's first night out. All seemed well for Marco and Natalya until Andrea Radvan arrived as a deckhand. Marco was quickly taken by Andrea as he found her attractive, and they both share a deep love for the sea. Andrea's attraction for Marco almost ruined their relationship as they kissed during their final night together. While they and Andrea left the boat together, they ended their relationship soon after.
The most recent Below Deck love triangle comes from Below Deck Med season 8 between Luka, Jessika Asai, and Natalya Scudder. Early in the season, Luka and Natalya had something going on between them, but her complicated open relationship made it difficult for Luka to be fully interested. So he moved on to Jessika, and it made it easier for him to do so since Natalya left the boat. Luka and Jessika were the it couple on board, but he was still texting Natalya on the side, and the two even kissed again during the final crew night out.Another tumultuous Below Deck love triangle emerged in season 2 of Below Deck Sailing Yacht. During night one, the crew indulged in excessive drinking, leading Gray to connect with Sydney Zaruba. Despite their connection, Gary's attention shifted to stew Alli Dore. Their flirtation drove Sydney mad, ultimately resulting in her departure from the show. While Gary eventually found himself with Alli, the relationship proved short-lived due to conflicting priorities.
Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 4 featured a significant love triangle between Gary, Daisy Kelliher, and Colin Macrae. The storyline began when Daisy and Colin hooked up but were interrupted by Gary's jealousy. This revelation strained their long-standing friendship and complicated their relationships.