Disney Sails His Last Act With Volvo 70 ‘Pyewacket’ — the Fastnet Race
Scott Easom wrote in to let us know Roy Disney’s modified Volvo 70 Pyewacket is tuned up and ready for her last race under Disney’s ownership, the 2025 Fastnet Race. It’s the 100th anniversary of the event and has a record 451 entries! The previous record was 430 entries in 2023.
Scott reports that the weather is currently light and will be very tricky as they near Ireland. They’ll be racing in the IRC Super Zero class, which has four Volvo 70s and two Volvo 65s. Pyewacket’s 18-ft draft means she can get powered up! It’ll be very competitive.
According to Scott, this will be Disney’s final act for Pyewacket, as she is actively for sale. They’ll do the race and then leave her in Portsmouth until she sells.
During Disney’s ownership, she’s torn up the race course in both the Atlantic and the Pacific, winning many races and setting records. She’s won the Caribbean 600 and the Pacific Cup overall. She set the Newport to Cabo Race record, won Antigua Race Week, and set the Puerto Vallarta Race record, and has won numerous other events.
The race sets sail tomorrow from the Royal Yacht Squadron line off Cowes, Isle of Wight, heads out around Fastnet Rock off Ireland, and will finish in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France. You can follow the action here.
Mr. Easom, by the time you might read this I’m sure you’ve already ‘given them hell’ over there with Pyewacket representing California. The Disney team is so fortunate to draw great talent, and you make us proud of SF Bay sailing leaders out there on the Grand Prix international scene.
Ditto that! 😊
Agreed…your Uncle Hank would be proud…but he knew that a long time ago…I raced many
years ago against your father Bruce on his Cal 29 – Champagne. No one could beat him…
you come by it honestly and are the current head of a special SF Bay sailing family.
Stay safe…
Maybe you and your crew could take over America’s SailGP program!
Thank you for all the kind words. It has been my honor and pleasure to have been a part of the Pyewacket program for over 30 years. The stories I could tell would fill a book. The adventures, the people, the successes and the failures have been the highlights of my sailing career.
Didn’t the boat finish the Transpac just a few days ago?
The boat finishing the Transpac was the Andrews 68 Pyewacket. The boat in the Fastnet is Disney’s Volvo 70 Pyewacket.
Scott, please write that book!
Who will own the boat next?
My brothers (Donn Campion)boat Merlin held the record for the Transpac for many years till Disney beat it like 20 years ago.
Forwarding to Greg Hedrick
Scott Easom…. please write that book!!!
Hats off to the Disney Family for inspiring sailors and providing great leadership for the future sailors. Roy and his father have always supported youth sailing, while running top programs with top people in our sport.
What will he purchase next?