The Race to the Ball was Fun for All (Nantucket Island, MA)- Serious fun, camaraderie, and sailing... that's what Figawi Race Weekend is all about. Over 240 boats and a thousand+ sailors convened for New England's first major regatta to kickoff every summer. The format is unique since it's a pursuit race, with smaller, slower boats starting first and the biggest, baddest, fastest start last.
Over the last twenty years the Figawi Charity Ball has become the largest single night of fund raising for local charities. Today, the event attracts 1,200 zealous and diverse individuals (like the Kennedy family) and is considered to be the premier social event of the season on Nantucket. It is not only famous as a great night out, but thanks to the generosity of sponsors and proceeds from raffles and silent auction, Figawi Charities generates nearly $200,000 each year and has provided over $2.2 million in support to local organizations who would otherwise go without.
As they say, gotta make sure you don't "hoot with the owls too long" otherwise you may not be able to "soar with the eagles" the next day. Keeping things fun and in perspective were a number of J's doing their best to keep the pace with the fleet and fellow J owners. Getting line honors in Division A was Bill Jacobson on-board his J/46 Vanish. In Division D, the J/37 Duck Soup sailed by Stephen Lipman finished 3rd. The "Sprit Boats" Division S was comprised of nine J's sailing against six other boats (unfair maybe?). Taking second and third, respectively, were Nick Judson's J-105 Prima and Bill Mack's J/120 M-Squared. For more info.