TF takes to the sea with Pirates stars

All day Sunday, the weather on the south coast of England was peachy, with barely a breeze, and the water was calmer than an expectant scientologist during labour. By midday Monday, the sky is black, the rain is spanking down and Total Film is in the middle of the Solent, on a boat.

Still, we count our blessings, because from the relative safety of our cosy yacht, sipping champers and nibbling from a tray loaded with goodies, we can spot Pirates Of The Caribbean star Mackenzie Crook – gripping onto the back of the Disney sponsored entry into the Volvo Ocean Race, a look of disbelief plastered across his… erm… boat race.

“I don’t feel guilty at all,” co-star Kevin McNally tells us, sucking down a beer while tucked up in a yacht named after his Pirates character, Joshamee Gibbs. “I’m not sure Mackenzie knew what he was saying yes to though.” McNally lets a laugh slip free.

After more than five hours standing at the rear of the vessel as skipper Paul Cayard and crew busily race around him, Crook looks positively knackered and relieved to be back on dry land.

“It was fun yeah, certainly an interesting way to promote the movie,” he says enthusiastically. “Considering I’ve never been on a sailboat like this before, it was a unique experience.”

Cayard and his crew managed to develop a strong lead before slipping to second place after tearing their spinnaker during a gybe… see, one day on the water and we’ve got the lingo down.

Director Gore Verbinski’s second instalment in the Pirates trilogy, Dead Man’s Chest, swashbuckles into cinemas on the 7 July and stars Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley. The official site for the flick was launched this week - click here to pop below deck.

Keep your eyes trained on totalfilm.com for upcoming Pirates features…

Source: ( Disney )