What is the Figawi?

Senator Ted Kennedy was recently diagnosed with a potentially fatal brain tumor. Despite the grim news, Kennedy is preparing to race in the annual Figawi sailing competition.

The Figawi Race Weekend on May 23-26, 2008 will be the 37^th annual competition which is recognized as a top sailing event on the east coast as well as internationally. Organizers expect over 3,000 entrants from across the country to race over 240 boats from Hyannis to Nantucket, MA.

The tradition began in 1972 when a few friends started a friendly competition - who had the fastest boat. Figawi grew quickly, adding a formal race committee in 1978, and extended into a three-day weekend event. Senator Kennedy is a two-time winner of the Figawi race, once in 1989 and again in 2007. He has participated since its early incarnations.

By 1987, organizers created community outreach programs and a charity ball to support local charities. The Figawi Charity Ball is now the largest single night of fund raising for Massachusetts charities. Senator Kennedy has long been one of the affairs most generous supporters.

Locals credit Senator Kennedy and his family for putting Hyannis, MA, on the map. The location draws tourists from all over the world, often to Kennedy-organized functions such as the Best Buddies Challenge - an annual fundraiser for people with intellectual disabilities.

In a past article for the Cape Cod Common Sense, Jeff Blanchard writes about how wherever you go in the world, if the subject turns to Cape Cod, the most common themes are "boating and the Kennedy's."

"According to one fellow boater, Dave Brinning of East Orleans, who races in the Figawi alongside Kennedy and the rest of the Cape's social yachting set, and who also stores his boat at Northside," writes Blanchard. "The senator has had to be rescued several times in frightening situations, twice off Monomoy Beach in Chatham, once by Brinning himself."

According to Blanchard, not only are the waters of Cape Cod perilous but the political implications have been dubious as well. More of his story is available at - Of Boats and Votes, of Kennedy's and Kingpins.