PYEWACKET'S 'DIRTY DOZEN'

No West Coast crew has been together longer - or has had as much fun - as the Pyewacket gang. "We're like a big, extended family," explained boat owner Roy Disney. "Everyone gets along really well, and is a great sailor. The only thing we fight over is helm time - everyone wants to drive, especially when it's windy!"

Disney is as loyal to his crew as they are to him. Most of these guys have been with him through at least two boats, and the line-up doesn't change much from year to year. "Robbie tells me there's a waiting list a mile long to get on the boat," laughed Roy. "They'll just have to wait." Here's a quick look at the twelve 'tenured' crew who currently constitute the Pyewacket varsity squad:

Roy E. Disney, age 69, Los Angeles, vice chairman of the Disney Corporation (and head of the animation department). Married to Patti, four kids (only Roy Pat races). Disney has had an ongoing love affair with the TransPac since his first one in 1975, missing only one since (in '97, due to a broken leg). He's raced four TransPacs on his S&S 52 yawl Shamrock, one each on the SC 50 Samurai and the ULDB 60 Dare, two on his N/M 68 Pye-wacket, three on his SC 70+ Pyewacket, and this one on the new boat. Roy and the men listed on this page currently hold the course record for the TransPac, Pacific Cup and Vic-Maui Race - a pretty amazing hat-trick.

Roy Pat Disney, age 42, Los Angeles, entrepreneur (gym owner, buys and sells radio and TV stations), Los Angeles, engaged to be married. Roy Pat has done every TransPac since '75, when he was just 18, which puts him one ahead of his father (and on pace to become the highest mileage TransPac racer of all time). Physically buffed (he was once a grinder for Young America), Roy Pat is also an excellent sailor in his own right. "He's a great driver!" declared his father.

Robbie Haines, age 45, Coronado, North Sails consultant and "almost full-time" Pyewacket project manager, two kids (his 15-year-old son Brian is, by consensus, the most promising sailor of all the Pyewacket progeny). An Olympic gold medalist ('84 Soling), Robbie has been with the Disney program since the early '90s as a primary driver, tactician (along with Honey) and "designated worrier." As Roy's right-hand man, Robbie is in charge of optimizing the rating, tweaking the sail inventory and organizing the crew. "He deserves a lot of the credit for our success," said Roy.

Stan Honey, age 44, Palo Alto, entrepreneur (his second start-up, Sportvision, does high tech enhancement for TV sports coverage), married to two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Sally Lindsay. Honey, a sought-after navigator, currently splits his time between the chart tables of Pyewacket and Steve Fossett's PlayStation - which leaves little time to sail his Cal 40 Illusion. "Stan is the best navigator in the world," stated Roy emphatically. "He's just brilliant, and he totally understands the Pacific Ocean." Honey also currently owns the single-handed (Illusion) and doublehanded (Mongoose) race records to Hawaii, an unequaled four Barn Door trophies, as well as the 24-hour speed run of all time (PlayStation).

Gregg Hedrick, age 43, El Segundo ("where the sewer meets the sea"), Pye-wacket boat captain, two kids. Originally from Portland and Seattle, Gregg has worked for Roy for 12 years and sailed with him longer. "I have the best job in the sailing world," he claimed. "Roy has been like a father to me." Gregg manages two assistants, keeping the boat immaculate and delivering it to and from races while the crew flies (sometimes on Roy's private jet). He'll be gone much of next year - Pyewacket is scheduled to do the Mazatlan Race (if it happens), the PV Race, MEXORC, and then head for Europe and the Med.

Rick Brent, age 36, San Francisco (originally from Connecticut), chiropractor, recently married, about seven years with Pyewacket. Bowman Brent, who joined the Disney program after winning the America's Cup on America3 in '92, possesses legendary upper body strength. "He and Zan are like monkeys," said Robbie. "They're a great pair up on the foredeck, so in sync with each other that they complete each other's sentences."

Dan Crowley, age 42, Long Beach, owns a big forklift/travelift company, two kids. Crowley, the mainsail trimmer, has been with Pyewacket since the 'pre-Robbie' days. A former scow sailor from the midwest, he's Pyewacket's resident practical joker. "He's the funniest guy in the crew, always keeping us loose and laughing," said Stan.

Zan Drejes, age 43, Felton, two kids. Zan is a professional sailor (Blondie, Mongoose, Sayonara and others) who now also oversees apartments for Octavia owner Shep Kett. A consumate seaman, Zan has sailed regularly on Pyewacket for six years, often helping Gregg prepare the boat in the week or so before the race. "He and Rick are the best foredeck pair in the business," claimed Roy.

Scott Easom, age 40, San Rafael, two kids. A professional rigger and paid sailor, Scott professes to dislike offshore races, but loves sailing on Pyewacket. He's the most recent addition to the crew ("A real find!" claimed Roy), drafted as a last minute driver/trimmer for the '97 Trans-Pac when Roy broke his leg, Zan broke some ribs and Doug Rastello had to bail out for business reasons. "I hope I never do anything to get tossed off this program," he stated. "Everything about it is so first class!"

Dick Loewy, age 48, Seattle, independent rep for furniture factories, three kids (17, 15, and 12). "I'm the oldest and the luckiest crewmember on the boat!" claimed Loewy. He, Roy Pat and Gregg are the most senior crew, dating back to the TransPac on the SC 50 Samurai - the trip that opened Disney's eyes to the ULDB world. Dick grew up in SoCal, where he was captain of the UCLA sailing team and an Olympic-caliber Finn sailor. He was also Ben Mitchell's and Roy Pat's sailing instructor at Cal YC. "The students passed the teacher years ago," he laughed. "I take that as the ultimate compliment." Loewy can often be found grinding or cooking on Pyewacket, and he and Roy traditionally do the food shopping together before the long races.

Ben Mitchell, age 45, Malibu, 'retired' lawyer, two sons. Benny put in 19 years as the general consul of a company that was recently bought out, leaving him with no immediate financial worries - and lots of time to sail his Melges, Star and Laser. An All-American sailor at USC, Benny inherited a love of sailing from his late father, legendary navigator Ben Mitchell, Sr. On Pyewacket, he helps Robbie with the tactics and is known for his smooth driving. "Benny helps control the tempo on the boat," said Roy. "He keeps everyone motivated."

Doug Rastello, age 47, Glenbrook, Nevada (Lake Tahoe), real estate developer, two kids. Rastello, also an All-American at USC, is an America's Cup vet (tactics and downwind driver on Eagle in '86) and a former Prince of Wales winner. On Pyewacket, he does the running back-stays, drives and contributes to the tactics. "Doug's our devil's advocate," remarked Roy. "You need someone like him around all these opinionated people!"