Figawi

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The Figawi or Figawi Race Weekend is an annual sailing race from Hyannis, MA to Nantucket on the Memorial Day weekend. It is a relatively prominent race and attracts boats from all around New England, not just Cape Cod. While it is a race, its primary aim is to be a fun event.

[edit] History

The event began under informal circumstances in 1972 when, according to Figawi legend, a few friends simply decided to race from Hyannis to Nantucket one day. Over the years, more and more boats began to participate in the race until it began to be relatively formalized in 1978. 2006 marked the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Figawi Race Weekend. Figawi is now recognized as a sort of Spring Break for the well-heeled 30+ crowd. It is also an important race that kicks off the racing season each summer. There are participants from as far as Canada, California, and Key West. Some participants are experienced sailors in high tech boats while others are families in summer cruising class boats. It is a great event that all levels of sailing ability can have fun and great racing.

The name "Figawi" originated with the first sailors of the race, including John Linehan, a well known New England sailboat racer from Osterville, Cape Cod who, when encountering fog during that first sail to Nantucket, stated "Where the fuck are we?" The phrase from this foggy passage became lore and was shortened to the more socially acceptable "Figawi".

A more elaborate humorous explanation, in part based on the preceding origin, is the tale of a fictional band of nomad Indians that would wander from town to town. They were noted for always emphatically announcing themselves upon their arrival in Pidgin English, "We're the Figawi!" Sadly, this poor band was actually lost. Wandering from settlement to settlement, they kept asking where they were, but would only receive blank stares from the stupid townspeople. They are probably still out there… The Race founders, attempting to traverse Nantucket Sound with its infamous fog and shoals, felt great kinship with these unhappy souls. The official race emblem for many years sported an Indian looking through a spyglass backwards.

Children are told that it is a shortening of the question "Where in the fog are we"?