Today we have lost a hero, a legend, an icon, mentor, and a friend in the sailing world. With Roy Disney’s passing comes a lot of grief for me personally, but above the grief comes the honor that I feel for having been able to be a part of his life.

In Pyewacket, Roy had a team that became a family. They stuck together through the years because of their shared love and admiration for one another, as well as their commitment to top-level sailboat racing.

With the Morning Light team, Roy extended that family to the next generation. We ‘kids’ will always think of him as the ‘grandfather’ of our team, and will forever remember the lessons we learned from him. He not only touched those of us on the Morning Light team, but he also shaped our futures and our lives. We have been influenced and inspired by someone of the highest moral character. We go forward being the best that we can with the most integrity, humility, and humor because that’s what we have seen to be values above all other.

Roy’s influence and inspiration were far-reaching. With the movie Morning Light, Roy was able to touch the whole audience of viewers. From the sailing community to the rest of the world touched by any Disney creation, we all have a lot to thank for the part Roy played in this world.

After taking a while to deal physically with Roy’s passing, letting the tissue pyramid gradually stop growing, I went out on my deck to throw flowers in the bay in Roy’s honor. The tide had just switched to outgoing. As Roy said when the Morning Light team finished exactly at sunrise, calling it ‘Walt Weather’, I think today was ‘Roy Weather’.

Roy may be physically gone, but he will be remembered forever.

Genny