The 44th annual Figawiweekend is in the record books.
The sailboat regatta from Hyannis to Nantucket this year featured more than 200 competitors vying for the top spot and hoping to win the coveted original pewter jug trophy on display at Baxter’s Boathouse.
Sailor Josh Newbury, of Waltham, Massachusetts was in the non-spinnaker division and tells WGBH he had his best race time ever finishing in just under two hours. Newbury says he’s been taking part in the race for more than ten years, " because of the camaraderie, the start of the summer, and being able to enjoy the weather in New England.”
After a long, cold and exceptionally snowy winter sailors, residents, and business owners on the island welcomed the race back to Nantucket and the thousands of visitors that come to the island for the start of the summer season. On Race day Saturday, a strong wind and cooler temperatures gave experienced sailors a competitive edge.
The race began 44-years ago as a friendly wager between sailors and a few beers and rum, and now it’s grown into a three-day extravaganza that falls on Memorial Day weekend each year.
Joining the regatta again this year is the Massachusetts based “Holidays for Heroes” Nantucket organization, and three wounded warriors participated in the race. After finishing, an audience of people on dock of applauded and saluted the veterans when they pulled into their slip.
Timothy Donley, a double-amputee who served in Iraq in 2012, was among three injured service members who took a turn at the helm of the boat captained by Bob Solomon and his crew. Donley tells WGBH, “ It was so great to get out on the waves, it’s just so different, it’s not something I’ve been able to do before, and it was just so fun. “ Donley and his fiance are marrying on the Island next weekend with some assistance from the island-based organization.
Tom McCann and Cheryl Bartlett are co-chairs of the “Holiday for Heroes”organization. McCann tells WGBH the group has two missions: “Bringing the Nantucket experience to wounded veterans and their families, and offering young soldiers the opportunity of an “American Dream”, by helping them with grants to start businesses or whatever their dreams may be.”
Nantucket shops, restaurants and hotels were bustling throughout the weekend. Jayne Briard, manager of Four Winds Gifts on Straight Wharf says Figawi brings in tremendous business, and “everyone involved with Figawi is generous and gives back to the community, the hospitals and the island.”
To Listen to the WGBH interviews click on the audio files included on this page.
