Who Is Massi Scarcia on Below Deck Med? Meet Max Salvador’s Replacement

Below Deck Mediterranean Season 11 finally has its newest deckhand. Massimiliano “Massi” Scarcia joins the Akira One in Episode 14 as the replacement for Max Salvador, whose brief return to the yacht ended when he left to help his father in Tunisia.

Massi is not an inexperienced deckhand being thrown into the deep end. The 26-year-old Italian yachtie has more than a decade of experience on boats and has previously worked as a deckhand, bosun and captain. In fact, he had been working as a bosun on another vessel shortly before joining Captain Sandy Yawn’s crew.

That experience makes his decision to come aboard simply as a deckhand particularly interesting, especially with Nathan Gallagher and Joe Bradley already locked in a leadership battle.

Related: Below Deck Mediterranean Season 11 Episode 14 Recap:

Who Is Massi Scarcia?

Massi Scarcia is from La Spezia, Italy, a coastal city with strong connections to the maritime industry. Bravo lists his birthday as March 13 and his zodiac sign as Pisces.

His professional background is far more extensive than viewers might expect from a late-season replacement. Massi explains after joining the yacht that he has spent years working on boats of different sizes and has already held senior positions.

He has worked as a bosun several times and has captain experience as well. Captain Sandy is immediately impressed by his resume and hopes that someone with that level of experience can step aboard, understand the operation quickly and help the exterior department finish the season.

Massi, however, has a very different goal for this particular job. After spending so much time being the person responsible for everything, he wants a season in which he can simply work without being the one in charge.

Why Did Massi Replace Max Salvador?

Massi arrives because Max Salvador unexpectedly leaves the Akira One in Episode 13. Max had only recently returned to Below Deck Med to help an exterior team already struggling with staffing problems. Luke Brumer had quit earlier in the season, while Nathan missed time because of his back injury.

Max’s return was supposed to stabilize the department, but his father then contacted him from Tunisia with an urgent problem. Max decided that helping his father was more important than completing the charter season and left the yacht. That forced Captain Sandy to find yet another replacement, leading to Massi’s arrival in Episode 14.

Does Massi Have More Experience Than Nathan and Joe?

Massi’s resume immediately stands out because he has already performed jobs above the deckhand position he accepts on Akira One.

He has worked as a bosun and captain, meaning he comes aboard with direct leadership experience. That does not automatically place him above Nathan, who remains the yacht’s bosun, or Joe, who remains lead deckhand. Captain Sandy hired Massi specifically as a deckhand. His experience nevertheless becomes impossible for the existing team to ignore.

Nathan quickly praises how easily Massi adjusts to the boat. Joe notices Nathan’s enthusiasm and becomes suspicious that his former friend is trying to bring the newcomer onto his side of their feud.

Massi appears considerably less interested in the conflict. He recognizes that something is wrong between Nathan and Joe almost immediately, but he does not arrive looking for another leadership role or a fight over hierarchy.

Does Massi Scarcia Like Chef Joy?

Massi also makes one personal preference clear very quickly: Chef Joy Lefaucheur catches his attention. Gen Lillie had hoped the incoming deckhand might become a potential romantic interest, but she decides almost immediately that Massi is not her type.

Massi’s attention goes elsewhere. After meeting Joy, he admits that he finds her beautiful and even becomes unusually nervous around her. That could create another unexpected complication because Joy already has someone pursuing her from outside the yacht. Former deckhand Luke Brumer continues texting her after his departure and sends her flowers at the end of Episode 14.

Whether Massi actually pursues Joy or his initial attraction remains nothing more than a crush will depend on what happens during the remaining charters.

Why Massi’s Arrival Could Change the Deck Team

Massi may have joined Below Deck Med without wanting responsibility, but Captain Sandy has gained something valuable: an exterior crew member who already understands how to lead a department. That could become especially important if Nathan and Joe’s relationship deteriorates further.

Episode 14 shows Nathan rearranging the overnight schedule partly to reduce the amount of time he has to interact with Joe, while Joe continues to question Nathan’s decisions. Massi has entered the team right in the middle of that breakdown.

For now, though, there is no mystery left about Max’s replacement. Massi Scarcia is officially the newest Below Deck Med Season 11 deckhand, and unlike some of the emergency replacements the yacht has needed this season, he arrives with enough experience to run a boat himself.