Figawi Folklore
A long time ago , three sailors started out from Hyannis to race their sailboats to Nantucket. That race would be the first of the Figawi Race Weekends, and the beginning of what has become a Cape Cod tradition.
It was 1972, a few friends thought a friendly, competitive sail to Nantucket would be a fun way to spend the weekend. Therefore, with wives and a few friends aboard as crew, the skippers headed out to see who had the fastest boat in getting to the island.
What was then organized and what was a “fun race to Nantucket” in the early 1970’s, soon became an annual trip across Nantucket Sound.
Whether it was the charm of a race to Nantucket, or maybe just the personal appeal of the early founders is really not clear, but Figawi began to grow by leaps and bounds. A lay day was added in 1978 along with a race back to Hyannis, as the race committee, now formerly organized, turned the Figawi from a one day race into a three day weekend event.
In the very early eighties some notable skippers from off-Cape began to sail with the fleet and spread the Figawi news all around New England.
The Figawi has certainly grown into one of the premier sailboat races on the east coast. Join us for great sailing on Nantucket Sound, great fun and camaraderie on the beautiful island of Nantucket, and memories of being part of a great tradition.