Strictly Sail Pacific - Morning Light preview

by Cynthia Goss on 9 Apr 2008 Strictly Sail Pacific, the largest sailboat show on the West Coast, will host a special preview of select scenes from the yet-to-be-released film Morning Light on Thursday, April 17.

The film is the real-life adventure story of one of the youngest crew to compete in the legendary Transpacific Yacht Race, an offshore sailboat race between Los Angeles (California) and Hawaii. This is the first time a West Coast audience will have an opportunity to view scenes from this film, produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pacific High Productions and due to be released on October 17, 2008.

Executive Producers Roy E. Disney and Leslie DeMeuse-Disney will present the film and answer questions, along with two of the young Morning Light crew, Piet van Os and Graham Brant-Zawadski. The film covers the selection of the crew, try-outs and training, and the actual race—when 15 young sailors, ranging in age from 18 to 23, were given the responsibility of racing a 52-sailboat on their own through 2,225 miles of open ocean.

This story of ocean adventure resonated with the executive producers, both of whom are experienced offshore sailors. Roy Disney broke the record for the Transpac race in 1999 on Pyewacket, and his offshore time-trial was not touched for six years. DeMeuse-Disney, a veteran television producer, was given the opportunity to compete in this race as a young girl, when the majority of her sailing experience was racing small dinghies on San Francisco Bay.

'As a young girl, I was never asked to race on a big boat,' said DeMeuse-Disney. 'But I finally got an opportunity to race the Transpac when I was 16 years old—and I had the most amazing, life-altering experience of my life.'

'We are thrilled to be able to host this special preview at Strictly Sail Pacific,' said Jonathan Banks, executive director of Sail America, the trade association that runs the boat show. 'Not only do we expect a great adventure story—but we believe this film will also show the allure of bluewater sailing, and why so many people are passionate about this sport.'

Strictly Sail Pacific runs from Wednesday, April 16 to Sunday, April 20 at Jack London Square. The Morning Light preview will be held on Thursday evening, April 17, from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Waterfront Plaza Hotel (Spinnaker Room). The preview is open to Strictly Sail Pacific exhibitors and ticket-holders for Thursday's show.

The five-day Strictly Sail Pacific boat show features an extensive fleet of sailboats and the latest in gear and equipment. Special events, try-sailing opportunities, and seminars lead by experts, which are free with the price of admission, will be held throughout the show.

The Morning Light event follows a successful East Coast preview, which drew a full-house crowd and was held in conjunction with the US SAILING Spring Meeting in Newport (R.I.) in March.

For more information about Strictly Sail Pacific and to purchase tickets, visit www.strictlysailpacific.com.