British actor and film star, Jeremy Irons, will be embarking on his toughest role yet by joining the crew of ‘LG Flatron’ in the BT Global Challenge round the world yacht race. For seven days and nights, Irons will forgo his acting career to tackle the short but dangerous sprint across the Tasman Sea from Wellington to Sydney in the fourth leg of the round the world race.

Irons will be joining a crew that is taking the race by storm, by winning both Legs Two and Three of the race. As a result, they have gained a considerable lead over the rest of the fleet. For seven days, Irons will put his celebrity life behind him to tackle conditions that will be far from easy.

“I am delighted to have the chance to be joining the leading yacht for the Wellington to Sydney leg.” commented Irons, “l was brought up sailing, so it is in my blood and this opportunity has to be one of the ultimate sailing challenges. I am terrified and exhilarated by the idea of the experience and hope that ‘LG Flatron’, in spite of my crewing, is the first to see the welcoming sight of Sydney Harbour in all its glory.”

The Skipper of ‘LG Flatron’, Conrad Humphreys, said: “The crew is delighted that Jeremy will be joining us on the next leg of the race. He has a huge amount of sailing experience and is keen to get fully involved with the crew and ensure that together we sail to our best ability. He will be a great addition to the crew and we are looking forward to welcoming him aboard in Wellington.”