Matthew Fitzpatrick-Buck Biography
Matthew Fitzpatrick-Buck is a South African yacht crew member and reality television personality appearing on Below Deck Season 13. Originally from Umdloti, South Africa, he has five years of experience in the yachting industry and joins the deck team aboard Azul V.
Also known as Matt Fitzpatrick-Buck, he works under bosun Alex Wright during the season, which takes place in Phuket, Thailand.
Matthew’s professional experience and relationships with his fellow crew members are among the subjects featured in Bravo’s previews of the new season.
Who Is Matthew Fitzpatrick-Buck?
Matthew Fitzpatrick-Buck is a professional yacht crew member from Umdloti, a coastal town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
He joined Below Deck Season 13 after spending several years working in the yachting industry.
His role involves helping maintain the yacht’s exterior, supporting docking operations and assisting with the activities required to keep a charter yacht operating smoothly.
Matthew works alongside other deck crew members, including James Bishop and Jessenia Stidger, under the supervision of bosun Alex Wright.
Where Is Matthew Fitzpatrick-Buck From?
Matthew is from Umdloti, South Africa. Umdloti is a coastal community north of Durban, known for its beaches and proximity to the Indian Ocean.
Bravo identifies Umdloti as Matthew’s hometown, although his earlier family life and the schools he attended have not been established through reliable public sources.
His South African background makes him one of several international crew members appearing on Season 13.
Matthew Fitzpatrick-Buck Age and Birthday
Matthew’s exact age and date of birth have not been confirmed through Bravo’s official cast biography.
Yachting Career
Matthew has five years of experience in the yachting industry, according to Bravo. Working on luxury yachts requires crew members to handle a variety of responsibilities, often under demanding conditions.
Deck crew members are generally involved in exterior maintenance, docking preparations, equipment handling and guest activities. Their responsibilities also require close coordination with the captain and other departments aboard the vessel.
Matthew’s experience provides a professional foundation for his work on Below Deck, although the names of his previous employers and yachts have not been independently established.
Matthew’s Role as Lead Deckhand
Matthew is identified as a lead deckhand in Bravo’s Season 13 preview. A lead deckhand typically takes on additional responsibilities within the exterior team while working under the bosun. The role can involve helping organize daily tasks, coordinating other deckhands and ensuring that exterior operations are completed safely.
On Azul V, Matthew works under bosun Alex Wright. Their working relationship becomes an important part of the season’s early previews, particularly when the deck team faces pressure during charter operations.
Below Deck Season 13
Matthew Fitzpatrick-Buck joins Below Deck Season 13, which premieres October 12, 2026, on Bravo. The season takes place in Phuket, Thailand, aboard the motor yacht Azul V.
Captain Kerry Titheradge returns to lead the crew, while Fraser Olender serves as chief steward and Rainbeau de Roos returns as second stew.
The new crew includes Chef Moe Vilomar, Alex Wright, James Bishop, Jessenia Stidger, Kaylee Brown and Rosa Simms-Preston.
Matthew’s position places him within the exterior department, where the team must manage docking operations, water activities and the yacht’s daily maintenance.
Working With Bosun Alex Wright
Matthew Fitzpatrick-Buck’s relationship with Alex Wright is one of the professional tensions previewed for Season 13.
Bravo released a clip on October 6 showing the deck team under pressure during a busy charter day.
The preview identifies Matthew as lead deckhand and shows him questioning whether Alex is doing enough to support the team.
Alex is responsible for supervising the exterior crew, making communication between him and Matthew particularly important.
The preview establishes a disagreement about workload and leadership. However, it does not establish the final outcome of their working relationship.
Viewers will learn more about how the situation develops as the season airs.
Matthew Fitzpatrick-Buck and Kaylee Brown
Matthew and fellow crew member Kaylee Brown also appear together in the official Season 13 trailer.
The preview shows the two sharing a kiss, followed by a conversation in which Kaylee jokingly raises the subject of marriage.
The footage suggests that their interactions will be part of the season’s personal storylines.
However, the trailer does not establish that Matthew and Kaylee entered a lasting relationship or that they are currently dating.
Their relationship status should not be described as confirmed without further evidence.
Friends on Azul V
Matthew Fitzpatrick-Buck is among the crew members named by Chef Moe Vilomar in his official Bravo questionnaire.
Moe identifies Matthew, Rosa Simms-Preston and Kaylee Brown as people he became friends with aboard Azul V.
This suggests that Matthew developed connections outside the deck department while working on the yacht.
His friendships and working relationships provide context for his experience during the season.
Family and Parents
Reliable public sources reviewed for this biography do not identify Matthew’s parents or siblings. Although Bravo confirms his hometown in South Africa, it does not provide a detailed account of his family background.
Girlfriend or Relationship Status
Matthew Fitzpatrick-Buck’s current relationship status has not been independently established. Although the Season 13 trailer previews a kiss between Matthew and Kaylee Brown, that footage does not confirm that they remained together after filming.
Interests Outside Yachting
Matthew enjoys playing golf. He identifies golf as his favorite activity away from the yacht in Bravo’s official cast questionnaire.
An Instagram account using the handle @matt.fitzy has been associated with Matthew in published Season 13 cast coverage.
Quick Facts About Mattew Fitzpatrick-Buck
Full name: Matthew Fitzpatrick-Buck
Also known as: Matt Fitzpatrick-Buck
Hometown: Umdloti, South Africa
Nationality: South African
Profession: Yacht crew member
Yachting experience: Five years
Below Deck role: Lead deckhand
Television show: Below Deck
Season: 13
Yacht: Azul V
Filming location: Phuket, Thailand
Bosun: Alex Wright
Favorite activity: Golf
Career Beyond Below Deck
Matthew entered Below Deck with five years of professional yachting experience. His work in the exterior department, South African background and experience aboard luxury yachts provide a foundation for his biography beyond reality television.
