Russell Crowe sails home in record time

by Al Constable on 3 Jan 2003 Actor Russell Crowe and his mates, guests aboard thee 83 foot maxi Travelex, in the 2003 Strathfield Pittwater to Coffs race enjoyed the thrill and hard work of a race record run in the 226 mile race overnight.

The winner of the 2000 Hobart and runner up in 2001, sailing as Nicorette, the big boat sailed out of Hobart and back to Sydney for the start of 226 mile Coffs race.

The twelve permanent crew needed all the help they could get, pushing after the line honours winner Wild Oats. Crowe and his nine man team worked the grinders and sail handlers tirelessly overnight, as skipper Ludde Ingvall called for sail changes in the shifting conditions.

This morning Crowe worked mainsheet, before switching to the helm under the expert guidance of Ingvall who had tutored Crowe for his latest role as a ship captain in the movie, Master and Commander.

He steered Travelex for some hours this morning, as she became the second fastest boat ever to sail this race.

Crowe, probably Coffs Harbour most famous resident sailed into the rocked walled port at 8:24:13

There was some overnight drama on the boat, with water ballast systems out of action and vibration coming from the propeller shaft.

Travelex crossed the finish line 90 minutes inside the old race record, but was an hour behind Wild Oats.

‘They were too fast for us in the early stages’ commented crewmember Craig Malouf. ‘We were disappointed that we had a few boat issues which prevented us really taking the race up to them.’

When Travelex sailed into the Coffs harbour, she was taken under tow. A diver quickly discovered that the entire sail drive had started to shear away from the boat.

For more news and skeds www.sail-world.com/pittwatercoffs2003