By Nick Ralston
Winning Sydney to Hobart skipper Anthony Bell will appear in court this week after police sought an interim apprehended violence order against him to protect his TV presenter wife Kelly Landry.
Bell, whose Supermaxi Perpetual Loyal claimed line honours and the race record in the event, is before Waverley Local Court on Thursday.
Kelly Landry and Anthony Bell
The conditions of the interim AVO state that Bell must not be in the company of Landry for 12 hours after he has been drinking alcohol or taking illicit substances.
He must also abide by the usual conditions of an AVO and not assault, threaten, stalk, harass or intimidate his wife.
Kelly Landry and Anthony Bell embrace at Constitution Dock after he claimed line honours in the 2016 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.Credit: Getty Images
Bell is the founder and chief executive of accountancy firm Bell Partners whose clients include the likes of Michael Clarke, Anthony Minichiello, Karl Stefanovic and Larry Emdur.
He emailed his clients on Monday evening saying he was writing to them with an "extremely heavy heart about a very serious matter".
"By now you may have seen a most distressing piece of news about my family involving some allegations my wife has made about me," his email read. "There is an allegation that I pushed her in November ... I did not push her.
"There is an allegation I spoke loudly and embarrassed her in front of friends. It did not happen. I deny the allegations."
Perpetual LOYAL owner/skipper Anthony Bell celebrates with sponsors and crew at Constitution Dock after winning the 2016 Sydney To Hobart.Credit: Getty Images
Bell said he would defend the allegations in court and that it was a private matter that Landry and he were committed to resolving.
He said the "emotional, physical and mental wellbeing" of his family was all he cared about.
"I abhor all violence and I am faithful to my family," his email stated. "It is unimaginable to me that I could ever touch a woman in anger.
"I have never taken a drug, been in any way disrespectful to people. I lead a quiet family life and try to be the best ... husband that circumstances permit."
Bell and Landry, a former model and Getaway presenter, married overseas in 2011.
They have previously been affectionately known as "Belly and Kelly" on Sydney's social scene. They were introduced by mutual friend and television presenter Natalie Gruzlewski in 2010.
Bell announced he would sell Perpetual Loyal ahead of his 2016 Sydney to Hobart win saying the time was right now to focus on being a father and husband.