Roy Pat Disney joins us on the SDYC Sailcast to talk about the history of sailing in the Disney family, the Transpac Race, and Pyewacket.
Host Alli Bell kicks off this episode of the SDYC Sailcast by asking Roy how he got involved in sailing, which is greatly attributes to his father. He discusses his father’s experience and how he and his mother introduced Roy to the sailing world.
Roy begins right away telling Alli the story Pyewacket, the name of many of the Disney family boats. He tells the stories of some of the first boats his family chartered starting in 1975 as well as some of the challenges and lessons they learned about which boats they enjoyed sailing over the decades.
As many might be wondering, Roy tells us why the boat is named Pyewacket and how his father came up with it in a popular time of witchcraft and sorcery.
After many years of chartering, Roy and his father did their own research on what boat to purchase. He talks about their Nelson Marek 68 and winning the first race they sailed in, the Cabo Race. Roy jokes about his father’s desire for bigger and better boats and his transition into the 78’ which beat the Transpac Record. He mentions the 86’ boat and how it soon became a 94’ boat before moving on to their current version of Pyewacket.
Roy goes into detail about their support with the Morning Light Project and his feelings on teaching younger kids the required protocols of offshore sailing and introducing them to programs like Safety at Sea. He tells us that two of the kids he trained ended up in the Volvo Race sailing around the world.
In the past year, Roy has been working to refine his 100’ boat, which they were going to take to the Tahiti Transpac before it was cancelled. The topic switches to the Ensenada Race and what’s next for Pyewacket70, including this upcoming summer’s Transpac race to Hawaii. Roy happily tells stories of past Transpac Races and reminisces on the great moments he has had on the boat.
Roy and Alli then discuss what some of Roy’s sailing goals are. “My bucket list item is to sail around Cape Horn, the Mount Everest of sailing,” he says.
The conversation ends with, of course, advice to others who are looking to do similar sailing ventures as Roy. In addition to time on the boat, doing all the jobs, and having a good attitude, Roy notes, “The ocean is bigger than we are, and it is a cruel master when it wants to be. You have to have your head about you.”