Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - AC ETNZ 1456x180px TOP

Roy E. Disney and the Newport-Ensenada Race

by Rich Roberts on 22 Dec 2009
Roy E Disney at helm of PYEWACKET Mary Longpre - Longpre Photos http://www.Longprephotos.smugmug.com

Roy E. Disney led several notable lives---creative artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist---but the one where his loss will be felt most personally by his peers is that of a world class sailor and selfless promoter of the sport.

Disney passed away last Wednesday at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian less than a month shy of his 80th birthday of Jan. 10 after a year-long battle with stomach cancer---possibly the only circumstance that would have kept him out of the 63rd Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race starting April 23 just a couple of miles away off Newport Beach, where he also made his home in recent years.

He had sailed his various high-performance Pyewackets---named after a mythical witch's cat---and earlier boats in about half of the previous 62 races and twice held the elapsed time record for monohulls.

'I know he loved it,' said Robbie Haines, who organized the crews and racing schedules and served as tactician on Disney's boats for the last 21 years. 'As crazy as the race is, he really looked forward to it, every single year.'

Disney loved the race so much that in 1978 he produced a documentary film about it---'Pacific High'---based on his first ocean racer, Shamrock.

Disney held the record that Doug Baker's Magnitude broke in 2002 when Disney was off campaigning Pyewacket in the Caribbean . . . while the cat was away, the record went astray. But a year later when Baker had sold Magnitude and was sailing on another boat, Pyewacket reclaimed the mark with a time of 10 hours 44 minutes 54 seconds.
Baker said at the time, 'I'm glad for Roy. He's been great for the sport, and he deserves [the record].'

It stood until last April when after several tries Baker's newer Magnitude 80 rode moderate but steady straight-line winds to beat Disney's six-year-old record by 7 minutes 3 seconds with a time of 10 hours 37 minutes 50 seconds.

'I'm in shock,' Baker said afterward. 'I don't have any fingernails left. I've been doing this for 40 years and I'm still amazed by what happens out there.'

At Disney's passing, Baker saluted his rival: 'I broke his record and then he came back and broke it again. We had a good rivalry.'

Haines, who sailed with Disney on 13 of his 15 Transpacific Yacht Races to Hawaii and many other ocean races, described him as 'not your typical owner-skipper. His demeanor was very informal

'He'd come on board and you’d know that Roy was in charge, and especially in the long races you would want his input because of his vast [sailing] experience. But he would take the opinion of everybody he respected and together come up with a decision on strategy.'

It was unusual for the sport but normal for Disney to sail with essentially the same crew of 12 to 15 for a decade or two.

Haines said, 'The Pyewacket group was such a family over the years that I would get phone calls from all kinds of sailors asking, 'Is there any room?' and Roy was so loyal that I'd just say, 'I'm sorry, we're gonna keep the same guys.' It's extremely rare. A lot of people want the best pros or latest world champion or Olympic medalist. Roy was happy with the guys he had.'

During longer races Disney would regale the crew with tales of making movies and cartoons as he grew up through the ranks at the Walt Disney Co., founded by his uncle Walt and father Roy.

'I can remember many races when we'd be on deck or down below asking him about old-time Disney studio stuff,' Haines said. 'It was fascinating listening to him. Certainly, there's nobody in the Disney company that knows more than he does about it. He was very well read. He knew a lot about everything.'

And he didn't mind striking impromptu conversations with friends or strangers.

'He just had this very unassuming way with people,' Haines said. 'He treated everybody the same. He was just a nice guy to the average guy.'

It was no different on the boat. Even at night in cold wind and rough seas, Disney would ride the rail with the rest of the crew.

'For many years he would take his turn at every job on the boat,' Haines said. 'There was this rotation where you'd steer and then you'd do the main and then you'd grind and then you'd trim. He'd do all of that . . . he was just part of the team, although in the last few years he would mainly drive. But he was always in charge of cooking. He'd make lunch and dinner. He loved that. He didn't like freeze-dried [food] very much.'

Ralph Rodheim, marketing director of the Newport-to-Ensenada race, offered thoughts in the same vein.

'My fondest memory was when we selected Roy as Grand Marshall for the race,' Rodheim said. 'Although his boat went back to San Diego he stayed for the entire trophy presentation. He then needed to get back to L.A., so Penny and I took him to the Ensenada military airport in our Dodge caravan mini-van---not the transportation he was used to. However, he was as friendly as anyone could be. At the airport we got to board his 'Shamrock' jet where we were invited to join him on the flight to L.A. unfortunately, we could not take him up on the offer. Roy Disney was a sailor's sailor, and will be missed.'

Memorial services have not been announced as of this date, but Disney's family has suggested that to benefit youth sailing, one of his leading causes, donations may be made in his memory to the California International Sailing Association (CISA), which funds promising young sailors with equipment and travel expenses. The family has stated that support of CISA will continue in his name.

Contributions may be made by mail to:
CISA
2812 Canon Street
San Diego, CA 92106
memo: Roy Disney Memorial
Donations also may be made by credit card by phoning CISA at 619.222.0252.

Entries for the 63rd Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race starting Friday, April 23, will be open in early January. Registration, including payment of entry fees, will be available online at www.nosa.org

2009 Results and more information: http://www.nosa.org/nosa-N2E.html
Rooster 2025Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignPalm Beach Motor Yachts

Related Articles

Registration open for Annapolis to Bermuda Race
A2B covers 753 nm from the heart of the Chesapeake Bay to the island paradise of Bermuda The organizing committee of the Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race (A2B) is pleased to announce that registration for the 2026 edition of this iconic offshore sailing event sponsored by Mustang Survival is officially open!
Posted today at 2:42 pm
North launches new Wingfoil Race Collection
Pinch even higher and reach even deeper at pace Pinch even higher and reach even deeper at pace. Engineered with a VMG-optimised partial double skin for improved aerodynamic efficiency, lower drag and precise manoeuvres at higher speeds.
Posted today at 10:35 am
AEGEAN 600 Attica Warm-Up Race
5th edition sets sail with strong winds and signature Greek hospitality Under perfect sunny skies and brisk northerly winds, the 5th edition of the annual AEGEAN 600 kicked off with a flawless start both on and off the water.
Posted on 4 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D5
Stage set for Finals showdown in Marstrand With just one day to go at the 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy, the stage is set for a thrilling finale in both the Open and Women's classes.
Posted on 4 Jul
Sam Goodchild in the Course des Caps
The final phase is full of potential pitfalls Sam Goodchild, the British skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance who has been dominating the IMOCA round Britain and Ireland race since the start of the third day, says the goal now is to focus on the complex finishing section.
Posted on 4 Jul
29er Europeans at Lake Garda day 2
Light breeze, boat park buzz and big wins off the water >Day 2 brought lighter winds to Lake Garda, but the energy around the event stayed sky-high.
Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 3
French tour de force gives Paprec world championship lead As the Rolex TP52 World Championship passed its midway point today in Cascais, Portugal it is the French underdogs on Paprec, led by ocean racing legend Loïck Peyron, which has taken the overall lead.
Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC One preview
Beyond the French legends there is plenty of international talent with podium potential With 17 editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race to his name, including five class victories along the way and an outright victory in 2015, could anyone bet against Géry Trentesaux doing it again?
Posted on 4 Jul
International Moth Worlds begin this weekend
Pre-Worlds are under way at Malcesine From 6 to 13 July 2025, the 2025 Moth World Championship officially gets under way, hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine and preceded by the Pre-Worlds on 4 and 5 July. The event marks the culmination of three weeks entirely dedicated to foiling.
Posted on 4 Jul
K-Challenge gives opinion on proposed Protocol
Why the 38th edition could usher in a new era for the America's Cup Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, Co-CEOs of K-Challenge, jointly stated: “The provisional Protocol published on 23 May 2025 by Defender Emirates Team New Zealand is an important step forward for the America's Cup."
Posted on 4 Jul