This profile of reality TV star Harry van Vliet is part of Street Meet, FLEETSTREET’s series, where we meet up with trailblazers and thought leaders to deliver unique insight and inspiration into issues we all care about.
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Season three of Below Deck Down Under is bringing the heat – and no, we’re not just talking about the Seychelles sun. Harry van Vliet returns to the show as a deckhand. But what the fans really love: His sweet “boatmance” with steward Brianna Duffield. And and it’s honestly giving major “Will they? Won’t they?” energy.
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing. van Vliet suffered a rough hand injury this season, making things a little dicey for him on deck. In my chat with him, he spills on life as a deckhand, the reality behind boatmances, and what it’s like to be a star on a reality TV show.
New episodes are Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET on Hayu.
FLEETSTREET: What’s it like being featured on reality TV? Do you ever forget that the cameras and production crew are there?
Harry Van Vilet: It’s definitely new at the beginning. The first few nights, you sleep a bit uncomfortably because you know what’s happening. You know you’re constantly being filmed.
At the end of the day, it’s just a job.
When I was approached to do the show, I was a deckhand. I was just like, it’s the job I currently do, but I’m just being filmed. So, why not!? You eventually forget about the cameras, but it does take a while.
FS: Do you ever go, ”whoops. I forgot I’m being filmed”?
HV: Honestly, I don’t think about it. But there’s the whole aspect of when the season is coming out, and then people recognizing you on the street. That’s just another fun aspect that happens.
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FS: There are always boat romances every season. This time, we saw you in a ship with Brianna. Are you still talking?
HV: Bri and I are definitely still friends. We still talk to each other. We’re very good friends. Being stuck on a boat is tough because you work together, live together. You’re not in a big house or anything. You’re in a tiny little boat with tiny little cabins, and you have to make it work.
FS: And can you tell me what it’s like having a boatmance?
HV: Sometimes, it’s really good; sometimes, it can be bad. You’ll have to wait and see if it works out for Bri and I.
But, I love having a boatmance. It’s really nice having a little cuddle when you finish work. And, I mean, if you’re lucky, sometimes you’ve get with a stew. They make the beds. When you get into your your bed after a long day, they may put a nice spray on it or a little something, like a surprise. Sometimes you may even get your laundry done in priority.
You get a few burners as well.
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FS: And then we saw that being a deckhand can be dangerous. Do you ever kind of second guess your chosen vocation? How’s your thumb?
V: Oh, thank you for asking. The thumb’s alright. It’s actually healed really well. I was cautious with it, making sure it was going to heal. But sometimes I ask myself, why am I doing this? But it’s not when I get injured. It’s more when I’ve have guests that are a pain or toilets to unclog. That’s when I wonder what am I doing with my life.
But, I love this industry so much. And I love being on the water – the swell of the waves and the rocking of the boat. It puts me to sleep every night. So, I never regret working in the industry, not at all.
RHOSLC’s Angie Katsanevas plays rapid fire questions
FS: What do you think makes for a good captain?
HV: My favourite captain I’ve worked is Captain Jason. We get along so well; I’ve done two charter seasons with him now. We click and we know we’re in it together.
FS: Will you get your captain’s license?
HV: My long-term goal is to be a captain. I’m working to gain my miles, and working my way up. So definitely, I think that to be a big captain you need to have good leadership and good people skills. You have to be able to understand all the different emotions that different people have. And I definitely think I’ve got a lot to learn, but I definitely think it’s possible.
FS: So I know the crew loves to go out for dinner and drinks after a charter. How much do you usually spend on a night out?
HV: It depends. It depends on where you are. Like, in the Seychelles, it’s not the cheapest place. I’ve been on boats in Thailand, where it’s less expensive. But in a typical setting, the bills can be $800 per person. The girls are buying bottles of Champagne. The dudes usually just stick to beers or cocktails, and it works out to be pretty expensive.
We work hard, play hard, you know.
FS: So what are your favourite perks of being a crew member on a yacht?
HV: Oh, definitely the travel. I love being able to be on the water, seeing these amazing places that you wouldn’t see working in an office. Also, the people you meet along the way, like all the different stews, deckies, captains and guests. There are different nationalities on board. I love meeting different people.
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FS: What about sharks?
HV: I love diving with sharks and I’ve done plenty of dives with sharks. So, it’s nothing new for me. I definitely have had some guests who have asked about sharks, and I say to them, “Get in there!” They get over their fear. They have no problems.
There are big sharks in the Seychelles. I haven’t seen any because I haven’t been diving there, so I wouldn’t know. Sharks are in the ocean everywhere.
FS: After the season ends, do you enjoy downtime, or are you kind of eager to just jump into the next season?
HV: I definitely like downtime. I travel for a bit, chill wherever we were filming. I like hanging around in the filming area, meet someone new, hang out, relax. Then I slowly make my way back into work or I do my captain’s tickets [work toward my captain’s license.] I’ve gotten experience from the seasons, and then I go and do my exams and my practicals.
FS: How far are you into getting your captain’s license?
HV: So I’ve got my “yacht master offshore,” which means I can skip a up to a 30-metre boat. The next step is to get an “officer of the watch,” which requires just another log book and a whole lot more exams. Then, I can be a chief officer, and then be a captain on a much bigger boat.
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FS: What was this season? What’s next?
HV: The worst definitely hasn’t happened yet. We’ve seen rolled jet skis. We’ve had thumbs fall off. We’ve had love asterixis (love triangles). And that’s not all. There’s a whole lot more that’s going to shock everyone. So don’t stop tuning in. I would say this season is probably “romantic” – that’s the word. I think that’s why it’s very different from other seasons.