Summer is here for Figawi sailors

by George Kostinas on 26 May 2006 For many people on Cape Cod, summer begins when the first tourists and vacationers start rolling over the bridge.

But for sailing enthusiasts, summer begins with the Figawi.


With Hyannis Boat Basin filled to its 200 boats capacity, the Figawi is one of the largest regattas on the East Coast, according to Meehan.

Sailors from all over New England enter this amateur sailing event.

The race is open to mono-hulled cruising or racing boats 24 feet or bigger and includes 15 different classes.

Because of the huge variety and disparity among the types of boats, the Figawi uses a type of handicap system, the PHRF rating system.

The slow boats start first, which results in all boats finishing closer together. 'This way the timekeepers don't have to wait there for hours for the last boats to come in,' says Meehan.

While many are serious sailors, they are weekend warriors, not Olympic or America's Cup caliber.

'They've got to navigate from here [Hyannis] to Nantucket,' says Meehan. 'They have to go around several government markers. It's not a straight shoot; there are a few legs in it. And they race to win it.'

Among those weekend warriors is Sen. Edward Kennedy.

'Ted Kennedy always races. His boat is the Mya,' says Meehan. Kennedy, who sails in the Division F, Non-Spinnaker class in a 50-foot Concordai, finished in 10th last year and was sixth in 2004.

'I think he came in first on the way back last year,' says Meehan. The main race, to Nantucket, is Saturday, but there is a return race Monday.

Because many skippers often sail back to their home ports from Nantucket, only Saturday's race results are official.

While Kennedy is the most recognizable name among the sailors, there are a number of other skippers of note.

Brian Cunha, a lawyer from Boston, in his 47-foot Tripp named Irie, finished seventh last year and was second in the Division A Spinnaker class in 2004.

And Blair Brown's Sforzano, a 45-foot Taylor, racing in the same class as Cunha, was fifth last year after winning the year before.

The race, however, seems to be more about tradition and fun than it is about winning.

But the tradition is also important. In 1972, three friends were bragging about who had the fastest boat, and they decided to race from Hyannis to Nantucket.

Meehan explains that as the sailors got into the Sound, they became enveloped in fog and mist and had trouble navigating their boats. Across the water they heard each other call out, 'Where the Figawi?'

'In fact,' says Meehan, 'for a number of years the logo was an Indian looking through a telescope backwards, but one of the original guys took it with him when he moved way to Florida.'

The winners receive trophies and other prizes, but the big Figawi trophy in the trophy case at the Hyannis Yacht Club is for all racers for all time.

In typical Figawi spirit, the inscription reads: 'This trophy is now shared by all who have enjoyed the thrill of being a Figawi winner.'

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