Stars join the Pirates

For Bank Holiday Monday in port race off Portsmouth

The Pirates of the Caribbean will have three special guests on board next week when The Black Pearl takes to the start line in the Solent for the in port race on Bank Holiday Monday, 29 May.

Joining the 11 crew will be Lady Gabriella Windsor, Mackenzie Crook, who stars as Ragetti in Pirates of the Caribbean; Dead Man’s Chest, due for release in July and James Cracknell, Olympic gold medal rowing champion.

The Black Pearl, skippered by Paul Cayard, is currently lying in second place overall in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06. Cayard commented: “After the tough Transatlantic Leg, we are looking forward to a fun and competitive inshore race. These boats are a blast when the wind is up and the racing is close.”

31st in line to the throne, Gabriella Marina Alexandra Ophelia is the only daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. Lady Gabriella’s father Prince Michael of Kent is the third son of George Duke of Kent (the fifth son of George V and Queen Mary) and as such is a cousin of our current Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

Mackenzie Crook stars in the new Pirates of the Caribbean film which in cinemas on 6 July following it's star studded European Premiere in London on 3 July. The film premieres on 6 July in the UK. Crook will be well versed to his role as pirate for the day as he plays a pirate in the film! He is also well known for playing the character Gareth in the BBC’s hit comedy, The Office.

James Cracknell is best known for bringing home gold medals in rowing from consecutive Olympics; a gold at the Sydney Olympics 2000 and a gold at the Athens Olympics 2004. Cracknell also took part in the Atlantic Rowing Race last year, smashing the record for the transatlantic crossing.

Proceedings at Gunwharf Quay, Portsmouth, will commence at 10.30am on Monday with a yacht departure ceremony. The start gun will be fired at 13.00 and up to three hours of action packed racing out on the water will commence.