Raising Pyewacket’s sails

Pyewacket, considered by many professional sailors to be the most technical and powerful racing yacht in the world, is now part of the educational toolbox for the students of the Orange Coast College School of Sailing and Seamanship.

The $7-million boat arrived at its new home in Newport Harbor last week. Since being donated to OCC by Roy Disney in July, it’s been at a Marina del Ray shipyard undergoing modifications to make it easier to handle and a better fit for Newport Harbor.

“It’s just an unbelievable opportunity,” Pyewacket skipper Gregg Hedrick said of students’ chance to sail on the boat.

The sailing school staff is assembling a team to sail Pyewacket in the Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race in April; tryouts begin next weekend, sailing school director Brad Avery said.

A crew of Pyewacket team hopefuls and guests tested the waters aboard Pyewacket on Wednesday afternoon, only the second time the sailing school has taken the boat out of the harbor.

“We’re just taking it slow and getting used to the boat,” Avery said.

Sailing Pyewacket isn’t easy. The boat ? 90 feet long and with a mast of 120 feet ? is better than any of the craft in the prestigious America’s Cup, said Paul Larkin, an America’s Cup veteran who has sailed Pyewacket.

Launched in 2004, Pyewacket is a custom-built Reichel Pugh design, made in New Zealand, said Hedrick, who’s sailed Disney’s boats for more than 20 years.

“It’s probably the most difficult boat to handle,” Hedrick said.

Sailing experts say the boat’s recent modifications will make it less powerful and easier for students to sail.

The bowsprit, which extends from the bow and connects to the sails, was shortened from 12 feet to six. The decrease in bowsprit length decreases the sail area ? and speed ? of the boat.

Pyewacket’s deep keel was also shortened to allow the boat to fit into Newport Harbor.

“It just won’t go as fast,” Hedrick said.

Larkin and Hedrick said they will stay and teach the members of the OCC sailing team until they’re comfortable with the boat.

Given Pyewacket’s size, just getting it off the dock and out of harbor is a calculated endeavor.

Just before leaving Newport Harbor on Wednesday, the boat’s engines were idled, the boat spun sideways and crews raised the main sail.

Moments later, Pyewacket was smoothly cruising at a speed of 14 knots ? about 16 mph ? cutting through the choppy waters effortlessly.

“Ninety-nine percent of the sailing world never gets to sail on something like this,” Hedrick said.

When the crew tacked ? changing the boat’s direction in relationship to the wind ? the sails went slack for one quiet moment, and then the wind pulled the boat with enormous force and the boom swung to the opposite side of the boat.

“Hang on!” the crew yelled.

Pyewacket’s passengers grabbed for handholds as the boat heeled far onto its side.

“It was nuts,” 17-year-old Nate Hogue, a boat repairman at OCC, said after the craft returned to harbor. OCC sailing instructor Karen Prioleau echoed his enthusiasm.

“It was a ball,” she said.dpt.10-otw-2-dz-CPhotoInfo9C1OPN5M20060310ivvynwkn(LA)Students and others line the port rail aboard Pyewacket as the boat cruises off Newport Beach. Wednesday’s sail was the second time OCC’s sailing school has taken the boat out of the harbor. dpt.10-otw-1-dz-CPhotoInfo9C1OPN4L20060310ivvynfknPHOTOS BY DOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Eric Klopfenstein helps raise Pyewacket’s mainsail before leaving Newport Harbor. The boat was recently donated to Orange Coast College.