J/Teams Ready for 55th FIGAWI Race to Nantucket

ByStuart Johnstone

(Nantucket, MA)- An annual right of spring for sailors in New England is the fun-loving pursuit race called “the FIGAWI”. It is serious fun, camaraderie, sailing, and most of all, charity- that is what FIGAWI is all about.

The Race attracts over 100 boats each year. Hundreds of sailors convene for New England’s first major regatta to kick off summer. The Figawi Charity Race is recognized as a premier sailing event not only on the East Coast but also nationally and internationally. The Charity Ball is held the weekend before the race. A premier event featuring a live band, a great DJ, a sampling from eleven local restaurants, and a fabulous silent auction and raffle.

The race starts on Saturday morning, May 23rd, just outside of the Hyannis harbor mouth. The fleet of 119 sailboats (of which 17 are J/teams) will all have a pursuit-style start, meaning the first boat (with the slowest rated PHRF handicap) takes off promptly at 0900 hrs, and about three hours after that, the last and fastest boat starts.

In years past, J/Crews have had more than their fair share of silverware in this race. It often can be a wild and woolly fast 23.5nm reach (~ 155 deg heading) across Vineyard Sound to the finish line at the picturesque lighthouse at the opening of Nantucket Harbor. This year, light to moderate easterlies are forecast.

PHRF 1 Division
Sailing in this seven-boat fleet are a trio of J/Teams. They include Robert Littleton’s J/111 SHE’S NO LADY, Jim Coggeshall’s J/121 CEILIDH, and Matt Sexton’s J/130 CHAMELEON.

PHRF 2 Division
There are four J/Crews sailing in this ten-boat fleet. Those teams are Robert Reifeiss’s J/120 MURMUR, Bruce Turner’s J/112E TASHIMA, Greg Morse’s J/109 MONSTER, and Ryan Scudder’s new J/36 PEREGRINE.

PHRF 3 Division
Racing in this eleven-boat fleet are five J/Crews. Four J/105s are sailing, including Ned Joyce & Andy Reservitz’s DARK’N’STORMY, Matt & Lisa Schmitt’s HARDTACK, Pete Lebesh’s LYRIC, and Scott Bender’s MAJI MOTO. Joining them is Rich Waiser’s J/35 JESSIE LEIGH.

PHRF 4 Division
In this eleven-boat fleet are three J/Teams. Participating are Phil Stathos’s J/110 AIRBENDER, Ira Perry’s J/29 SEEFEST, and Andrew Meincke’s J/97 ADRENALINE.

PHRF 5 Division
This eight-boat fleet features two J/Boats classics. Sailing are Garry Blank’s J/30 MOJO and Brooke Willke’s J/24 HOOLIGAN.

PHRF 6 Non-Spin Division
In this eight-boat fleet are two J/teams. They are Drew Piominski & Bonnie Heipie’s J/40 ARTEMISIA and David Follett’s J/120 GLORY.

PHRF 8 Non-Spin Division
This eleven-boat fleet includes Tom Ellis’s J/34 COVERAGE.

For FIGAWI Race scoring information
https://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50615

For more FIGAWI Race sailing information
https://www.figawi.com/