Disney's Pywacket V Drops Out

We can't say for sure that the prospect of racing against Rhiannon has intimidated five other skippers, but the race organizers issued this release today:

Disney withdraws, but he'll be back

The fleet has 16 boats, following the recent addition of two boats and the withdrawal of five, including Roy E. Disney's new Pyewacket V in what would have been its maiden race.

Pyewacket V

A disappointed Disney said, "It's a real bummer, but the race falls into the recovery time of some non-life-threatening surgery."

He said he would be back on the water for the Newport to Ensenada race, the Hoag Cup in June and his 16th Transpac to Hawaii in July.

We're sorry Pywacket won't be joining us, and we wish Mr. Disney all the best.

But looking forward, here's a shot of 14 of the 16 skippers, and what will probably be the final entry list:

That's our Cap'n Bill Tarr, leftmost in the back row

PV09 Confirmed entries

Spinnaker-A
Amazing Grace (Farr 55), James Puckett, Del Rey YC
Carmagnole (Beneteau First 45), Dan Howard, DRYC
Dare (Beck 60), Bob Kettenhofen, Balboa YC
Felicita (J/120), Perry Peters, Arizona YC, Phoenix

Spinnaker-B
Barking Spider (Catalina 36 MK2), David Kory, Point Richmond, Calif.
Jungle Jim (Jeanneau 49), Jim Maslon, DRYC
Rose of Sharon (Burgess 59), Byron K. Chamberlain, Newport Harbor YC
Sleeper (Jeanneau 44), Ron Simonson, Cabrillo Beach YC
Tranquility (Beneteau First 40.7, Max Lynn, Santa Barbara YC

Non-Spinnaker-A
Blue Note (Beneteau 473), Kevin & Rhonda Wixom, Mission Bay YC
Defiance (Swan 56), Peter Noonan, St. Francis YC
Lumiere (Beneteau 49), Carl Marusak, MD, DRYC
Transformer (Beneteau 49), Joel Young, So. Bay Yacht Racing

Non-Spinnaker-B
Artsea (Grand Soliel 45), Marty Laffer, DRYC
G-Rated (Catalina 42 MK2), Sid and Mark Lampert, DRYC
Rhiannon (Peterson 44), Bill & Stacy Tarr, DRYC