FIGAWI Race Preview

(Falmouth, MA)- For 44 years now, Nantucket’s summer season has been kicked off with a racing event for sailors of all levels of skill. They even have high school competitors that will be awarded for their participation in the event. The Figawi Race originated back in 1972 with a group of four friends competing to see who could make it from Baxter’s Boathouse in Hyannis to Nantucket Island before everyone else. It was just a friendly competition that saw crews comprised of friends and wives crossing the Nantucket Sound for fun. Over the years it has since grown into an iconic Cape Cod event that brings in more than 200 sailboats and powerboats with thousands of people that are either competing or just there to watch.

As with any friendly competition, the Figawi Race needs a proper party to welcome everyone to the festivities: The Kickoff Party at Hyannis Yacht Club. Luckily, this shindig isn’t just for the competing sailors; rather, everyone is invited to experience the building excitement for the race the following day. Starting at 3pm, the party will go until 8pm with the early ending time ensuring that the competitors will be in tip top shape for the race. There will be a cash bar and live musical entertainment will be provided by Hennessey

This year’s 44th Annual Figawi Race Weekend runs from May 23rd to 25th.  211 boats are registered with 14 J’s participating in what is by far the largest “pursuit-style” race on the American East Coast.

Saturday 1000 hrs is first boat off the line; the smallest and slowest rated PHRF boats.  Then, the Memorial Day Weekend celebrations start with massive tent parties Saturday and Sunday nights and the prize-giving on Sunday afternoon for ninety-seven trophies!

Early Saturday morning, crews begin gathering. Skippers and boat owners prepare their boats, gather their crews, and head out to the start line. The first boat officially begins at 10 am off the Hyannis Port Jetty. But beginning around 8 am, the parade of sailboats head out of Lewis Bay, pass by Kalmus Beach, and gather off Hyannis Port. The boats start from 10 am until approximately noon, depending on their handicapped start time. Everyone hopes to be the first one to reach Nantucket.

Depending on the various conditions, the theory of the Pursuit Race format is all competitors should reach the Nantucket MO(A) at around the same time. They finish at the entrance of Nantucket Harbor and parade into Nantucket Boat Basin. Standing on the beach at Brant Point Light is a great spot to watch all the action.

Saturday night Figawi hosts a Competitor Party under the Event Tent on New Whale Street.  Sponsors that provide product for festivities include Mt. Gay Rum, Budweiser, Cisco Brewer of Nantucket, Coca Cola, Boisset Family Estates (wine), Samuel Adams, and Jim Beam. After the day of racing, it is a great place to come and see old friends and make new ones.

Sailing in the PHRF Non-spinnaker division is Brad Butman’s J/28 SHADOWFAX, Hayley Reifeiss’s J/24 BIIG SANDWICH and Bill Jones’ J/40 SMITTEN.  Taking up the pursuit in PHRF Spinnaker division are five J/105s (Steve Widdis’ PRIMA team from Nantucket Community Sailing, the DARK’N’STORMY trio of Joyce/ Reservitz/ Wagner from Buzzards YC, Matt & Lisa Schmidt’s HARDTACK, Pete Lebish’s LYRIC and Ed Lobo’s WATERWOLF).  Two J/122s will be chasing them hard, Jimmy Maseiro’s URSUS MARITIMUS and Dan Heun’s MOXIE.  Several veterans of the race include the J/29 SEEFEST (Ira Perry), the J/46 WINGS (Richard Egan), the J/80 COOL J (Alex Krauss), the J/120 GLORY (David Follett) and the J/40 JAZZ (Kirk Brown).  A newcomer to the race will be the new J/97 ADRENALINE sailed by Andrew Meincke from Stage Harbor, MA.   For more Figawi Race sailing information