Daisy Kelliher – Below Deck Sailing Yacht

By starrymag | June 7, 2021

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) It was touched on a bit during the show, but how did you get your start working on yachts? 

A) My parents were in the industry as well as some of my aunties and uncles. When I was finishing school, my dad encouraged me to go into yachting but I wasn´t interested (I´m pretty sure it was like the Navy. [laughs]). So, he encouraged me to study Hotel Management as I really wanted to travel. After graduating I spent two years working in London and decided it wasn´t for me. So, the subject was brought up again about yachting. That May I was in Antibes looking for my first yacht job.

 

Q) What made you want to be a part of “Below Deck Sailing Yacht?”

A) I was let go when COVID first hit in March. I was at a loss and the yachting industry was very unstable. I was in lockdown in my parents apartment and a few friends messaged me saying I should apply. I figured I had nothing to lose (not in a million years thinking I would get it). Next thing I knew I was flying out to Croatia.

 

Q) Had you been a fan of the show or familiar with it before joining the cast this year? 

A) Yes, we used to watch it on our old boat. Good show for everyone of all ages and sexes to get involved with.

 

Q) Were there though any certain parts of your life you deemed off limits to the camera? 

A) Not really…I think talking about personal friends or family was hard as I signed up for the show and they didn´t. So, I tried to be discreet about them and respect their privacy. Otherwise, I was very open with the experience.

 

Q) Talk about your background in sailing yachts.

A) I come from a strong sailing background with my whole family having a passion for sailing. I grew up dingy sailing from a young age and spent childhood holidays chartering small sail boats around the Med. My grandfather also represented Ireland in the 1964 Olympics sailing dragons. So, I´ve always been close to the sea and never too far from a boat!

 

Q) Alli [Dore] came on this season in need of fine tuning her stew skills. Was she able to hold her own by the end of the season?

A) Absolutely! Alli is exactly what I look for in a Green Stew. No question is a stupid question (that’s a lie – most questions are stupid [laughs]), but Alli asked all the right questions and used her initiative which are my two requirements from a green stew and the rest is easy. She listened and took direction well. She was excellent at her job and would feel like to work with her again. A great work ethic!

 

Q) You and Natasha butted heads frequently in your quest to better serve the guests. Do you think it was more about finding your rhythm together at the start of the season? 

A) No…. I don´t think so… I don’t think we were ever going to work great together. I think Natasha [De Bourg] thought I had it in for her and, unfortunately, the chef and stew HAVE to work as a team and I don´t think that was ever going to happen. By the end of the season I just kinda let Natasha do what she wanted because I didn´t want to argue and you can´t run a stew/galley team like that they must communicate and work together in the interest of giving the guests the best experience possible.

 

Q) Sydney shared that Gary told the deck crew not to lend a hand in the galley. Was he simply focused on not wearing out his crew or do you think he was trying to punish you for having a clash in personalities? 

A) I personally think it was because he felt washing dishes wasn´t part of the deck crews job description. Only Gary [King] knows why… but this is the impression I got.

 

Q) That crash into the dock was insane! What was going through your mind while it was happening? 

A) I was honestly just shocked. I´ve never been on a boat that has hit the dock before, and it was one of those situations that took a while to process. I felt really sorry for Glenn [Shephard] too and really felt for him.

 

 

Catch Daisy Kelliher on “Below Deck Sailing Yacht” Mondays at 9PM ET/PT on Bravo