Roy Disney Rescues Crew from Sinking Yacht During Transpacific Race

Roy Disney, the grandnephew of Walt, rescued a competing crew after they were forced to abandon their sinking 70-foot sailboat while sailing in the 50th Transpacific Race on Monday, according to ESPNW.

  • Race officials said Disney's Pyewacket picked up the nine-man crew of John Sangmeister's OEX and that all were safe.
  • Disney’s yacht was sailing back to Los Angeles and was due in early Tuesday.
  • The OEX reported that its rudder post was damaged, causing it to take on water and eventually sink.
  • Race officials said they received an emergency signal from OEX at 2 a.m., followed one hour later by a message from Pyewacket that it had picked up the sinking yacht's crew.
  • Due to this incident and subsequent rescue, both the OEX and Disney’s Pyewacket have had to retire from the race, making them two of the 7 boats to retire.
  • The race began with a record 90 boats, which left Los Angeles last week in three staggered starts.
  • The Transpacific Race, or Transpac, covers 2,225 nautical miles from Los Angeles to Honolulu.