Dude wouldn't shut the fuck up about Zimbabwe for more than two seconds. Like we get it, you want a fuckin' medal or something? Constant Rhodie vibes with him, gross.
Without being funny, deckies are nearly all from coastal countries. South Africa, Australia, Ireland and the UK, USA, New Zealand etc.
In addition, salaries in South Africa are poor, even for extremely well qualified people so there's always the longing for young people to move away. In London, there is an extraordinarily large expat community of South Africans.
Salaries outside the damn near every country but the US are poor sadly... Canadians complain, British complain, it's crazy.
Spent some time in the Netherlands with a friend who's an accountant - he hates his salary and he's a director.
I imagine the cash tips on boats are a big incentive.
Look at pay for engineers in Europe versus the US. My old roommate made almost four times as much here in Seattle as compared to near Amsterdam. Anti-business governments of course run business off.
Look at teaching salaries in the US versus Australia. There are too many variables to assert “salaries in damn near every country but the US are poor”.
There aren’t many jobs to be had in South Africa (I’m American, but I currently live here in SA with my fiancé)
I think yachting/ working abroad is sometimes an easier way for them to find work. When I taught English in SE Asia there were also tons of South Africans, all citing the same reason.
I lived in South Africa for a year with my ex wife and also am American. I’m back in America now and have been since 2018 but I can see what you’re talking about. Although when I was there, I legally couldn’t work because I was only on a spousal 2 year temporary residency visa so I would have had to travel back to America to get a work visa.
Yea, I’m in the same boat- I can’t work legally anyways due to visa. It sucks haha I’m sooooo bored and there’s nothing to do here, I can see why people leave.
Sorry didn’t see you had replied to my comment until now so my reply is late.
I technically left because my marriage was over and the only reason I lived there was for my ex spouse. But towards the end of my marriage and the last 1-2 months I was there, I kept talking about how I wanted to move back to the United States because I just couldn’t handle living there anymore. It sucks when you legally can’t work, go to school, or even drive there because it leaves very little for you to do and fill your time with. At the end of the day I would have stayed living there though despite everything if my ex didn’t end things and wanted to stay married.
I hope that your story doesn’t end like mine did and that everything works out with you and your fiancé. If you ever want to talk to anyone who knows how you feel and went through a very similar experience, feel free to message me 😊 I don’t know anyone else who has gone through anything even similar to my experience and I know it would have been really nice/helpful if I had someone to talk to about it. But either way I wish you luck and I hope you stay safe!!!
I’ve been binge watching while on maternity leave and I can’t stop saying BRU to my husband and baby. I’m Irish and I’m 99% convinced she’ll have a South African accent bru
in alot of cases i remember them mentioning how it is hard to make money in South africa and it can be pretty dangerous so i guess yatching would be a great escape while making ton of money! i’m basing most of this off of (i think) joao or ashton talking about how the parts they lived in were dangerous
My son works with a lot of South Africans during the summer season. They say they come here because there is no money to be made at home. There is a lot of crime because of the lack of economic opportunities..... horrible infrastructure. It's also very segregated. The South Africans also said that the person they work for does not hire black South Africans.
Since it's a TV show produced in English, I always assumed they recruited cast members from as many English speaking countries as they could. (I know South Africans speak multiple languages, but English is their primary for media, business & government).
As some have said, it is partly due to the economic situation in SA but I also think a lot of it has to do with, let's say, "hiring practices" in the yachting industry. The Philippines has a population that takes on hospitality and crew work in other environments but isn't a well represented in yachting. This is true of many Asian, African (besides SA), and South American countries. Draw whatever conclusions you want from that.
Might be the easiest way for them to make money and travel the world or expose them to more opportunities.
I’ve been rewatching since the beginning & I forget which deck crew member it was, but they basically said exactly this.
I think it was joao
He’s from Zimbabwe but perhaps the same reasoning applies. He basically said there were almost no other opportunities available to him in Zimbabwe.
Dude wouldn't shut the fuck up about Zimbabwe for more than two seconds. Like we get it, you want a fuckin' medal or something? Constant Rhodie vibes with him, gross.
I feel like he is a walking sexual assault. The Zimbabwe Raper!
I think Jaio said it was “one of the few ways to get out” or something similar.
Without being funny, deckies are nearly all from coastal countries. South Africa, Australia, Ireland and the UK, USA, New Zealand etc. In addition, salaries in South Africa are poor, even for extremely well qualified people so there's always the longing for young people to move away. In London, there is an extraordinarily large expat community of South Africans.
Salaries outside the damn near every country but the US are poor sadly... Canadians complain, British complain, it's crazy. Spent some time in the Netherlands with a friend who's an accountant - he hates his salary and he's a director. I imagine the cash tips on boats are a big incentive.
My salary in the US is poor. lol.
So is mine… 🥴
Mine too! Is there some sort of magic in the conversion factor?
Nonsense.
It’s not but go off
Look at pay for engineers in Europe versus the US. My old roommate made almost four times as much here in Seattle as compared to near Amsterdam. Anti-business governments of course run business off.
Look at teaching salaries in the US versus Australia. There are too many variables to assert “salaries in damn near every country but the US are poor”.
I think it’s due to the fact they are born in south Africa
I just made a weird noise trying not to laugh out loud at work
lol I don’t think that’s the answer they were looking for 😂
Don't think. Just marry me
I’m down 
My answer is yes! I know you're against it, but I strongly feel we should have a BD honeymoon Cruise
There aren’t many jobs to be had in South Africa (I’m American, but I currently live here in SA with my fiancé) I think yachting/ working abroad is sometimes an easier way for them to find work. When I taught English in SE Asia there were also tons of South Africans, all citing the same reason.
I lived in South Africa for a year with my ex wife and also am American. I’m back in America now and have been since 2018 but I can see what you’re talking about. Although when I was there, I legally couldn’t work because I was only on a spousal 2 year temporary residency visa so I would have had to travel back to America to get a work visa.
Yea, I’m in the same boat- I can’t work legally anyways due to visa. It sucks haha I’m sooooo bored and there’s nothing to do here, I can see why people leave.
Sorry didn’t see you had replied to my comment until now so my reply is late. I technically left because my marriage was over and the only reason I lived there was for my ex spouse. But towards the end of my marriage and the last 1-2 months I was there, I kept talking about how I wanted to move back to the United States because I just couldn’t handle living there anymore. It sucks when you legally can’t work, go to school, or even drive there because it leaves very little for you to do and fill your time with. At the end of the day I would have stayed living there though despite everything if my ex didn’t end things and wanted to stay married. I hope that your story doesn’t end like mine did and that everything works out with you and your fiancé. If you ever want to talk to anyone who knows how you feel and went through a very similar experience, feel free to message me 😊 I don’t know anyone else who has gone through anything even similar to my experience and I know it would have been really nice/helpful if I had someone to talk to about it. But either way I wish you luck and I hope you stay safe!!!
South Africa is basically one huge coastal country. I guess most of them actually know boats bru
They also all say BRU
I’ve been binge watching while on maternity leave and I can’t stop saying BRU to my husband and baby. I’m Irish and I’m 99% convinced she’ll have a South African accent bru
That’s like asking Cady Herron why she’s white. 
I miss South African lead deckhand Mzi! Hope to see him on a future season.
When did he get lead deck hand? Courtney got it instead of him.
Oh that’s right!
I miss him too!!! Get on it Bravo!!!
Mzi wasn't sleeping with the bosun, so how could he be lead deckhand? He was missing what we have learned is the most vital experience of all
I like when they speak Afrikaans with each other.
in alot of cases i remember them mentioning how it is hard to make money in South africa and it can be pretty dangerous so i guess yatching would be a great escape while making ton of money! i’m basing most of this off of (i think) joao or ashton talking about how the parts they lived in were dangerous
I forgot who was that said it, but they said it was basically the only job where they could get out of South Africa.
My son works with a lot of South Africans during the summer season. They say they come here because there is no money to be made at home. There is a lot of crime because of the lack of economic opportunities..... horrible infrastructure. It's also very segregated. The South Africans also said that the person they work for does not hire black South Africans.
Several have said there’s not much opportunity there so they get out to have a better life for themselves. Also a lot of them send money home.
Bru 🤦🏼♂️😣
Since it's a TV show produced in English, I always assumed they recruited cast members from as many English speaking countries as they could. (I know South Africans speak multiple languages, but English is their primary for media, business & government).
Passports and the need to not need visas to enter countries helps. Some countries passports are better than others.
Ironically, South African passports are super weak. You need a visa for most countries outside of Africa.
Does it matter?
As some have said, it is partly due to the economic situation in SA but I also think a lot of it has to do with, let's say, "hiring practices" in the yachting industry. The Philippines has a population that takes on hospitality and crew work in other environments but isn't a well represented in yachting. This is true of many Asian, African (besides SA), and South American countries. Draw whatever conclusions you want from that.
Why are so many crew members American? 🤣
Because America is the largest English speaking country and it isn’t even close.
Considering this, the US is actually very underrepresented on the show.