BENETEAU Owners Leave Their Mark at the 55th FIGAWI Race Weekend

Crews gather in Hyannis. Sails and lines are checked one last time. Weather forecasts are debated over coffee and charts. Then, as the starting horn sounds, hundreds of sailors set their course toward Nantucket. Sailors chasing not just a finish line, but the challenge, the camaraderie, and the adventure that have defined FIGAWI for more than five decades.

 

This year marked the 55th running of one of New England's most iconic offshore regattas. And once again, BENETEAU was one of the most recognized names on the starting line.

 

Since its founding in 1972, FIGAWI has grown from a spirited challenge among local sailors into one of the Northeast's premier offshore events. Organized by FIGAWI Charities, the race draws hundreds of competitors each Memorial Day weekend for the 19.5 to 25.4 nautical mile crossing from Hyannis to Nantucket.

 

With divisions ranging from high-performance racing yachts to family cruising boats, FIGAWI showcases the full breadth of the New England sailing community. It's a race where serious competition meets lifelong tradition.

 

Race Recap: 108 Boats, Two Courses, One Perfect Day of Sailing

 

The 2026 edition brought 108 boats to the starting area, presenting Race Committee PRO Andrew Seguin with the classic offshore challenge: how do you set a course that serves one of the most diverse fleets in New England?

With a forecast of light Easterly winds ranging from 6 to 14 knots and building toward Nantucket, Seguin made the call to split the fleet onto two separate racecourses:

 

• Course 5 (25.4 nm) — for spinnaker-class boats with a PHRF rating below 91 and the multihull fleet
• Course 1 (19.5 nm) — a straight-line crossing from Hyannis to Nantucket for all other boats

 

Both courses sent sailors on a long, tight reach and upwind fetch. Some boats went left of the rhumb line, anticipating a southerly wind shift that never fully materialized. Conditions served as a reminder that offshore racing rewards tactics as much as strategy.

 

Among the 108 boats on the water, 14 BENETEAU yachts competed across six divisions in both Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker classes. The results speak for themselves:

⬝ 14 BENETEAU yachts entered
⬝ 6 divisions represented
⬝ 3 podium finishes
⬝ 4 top-5 results

 

Podium finishes:
• 2nd Place — Phoenix (Beneteau First 36.7), Division 3 Spinnaker
• 2nd Place — Saylavee (Beneteau 31.1), Division 11 Non-Spinnaker
• 2nd Place — Summer Wind (Beneteau 45), Division 7 Non-Spinnaker

 

Models on the water included the First 36, First 36.7, First 40.7, Oceanis 45, Oceanis 41.1, Oceanis 38.1, Oceanis 46.1, Oceanis 31.1, and Oceanis 42.3.

 

From racers to ocean cruisers, BENETEAU owners showed up.

 

In the Spinnaker fleet, Phoenix, a First 36.7 skippered by Dan Fellows, delivered one of the regatta's standout performances, earning second place in Division 3. Fellow First 36.7 competitors Agora and Belle both posted solid results, underscoring the enduring competitiveness of this racer-cruiser that continues to punch above its class.

 

Division 2 Spinnaker featured a strong BENETEAU contingent with two First 40.7s, Bamboozler and More Cowbell, alongside Ruse, a First 36. Together, they demonstrated that the First platform remains a serious offshore weapon.

 

In the Non-Spinnaker divisions, BENETEAU's versatility was on full display. Saylavee, a Beneteau 311, earned second place in Division 11. Summer Wind took second in Division 7. 

The common thread? Boats that their owners trust. Boats built for real sailing.

Here's the question every sailor eventually asks: Can a boat that's comfortable enough to cruise with family also be competitive enough to race with friends?

For BENETEAU owners, the answer at FIGAWI 2026 was a resounding yes.

The diversity of results across the BENETEAU fleet reveals something that sets the brand apart. The First series continues to prove its racing pedigree at the front of the fleet. Oceanis owners are making the crossing to Nantucket and competing successfully alongside dedicated racing yachts.

That's not an accident. It's the result of decades of design philosophy: build boats that don't ask sailors to choose between performance and comfort. Build boats that go racing on Saturday and take the family cruising on Sunday.

At FIGAWI 2026, 14 crews made that philosophy real.
 

FIGAWI has been bringing sailors to Nantucket since 1972. Over those 55 years, the race has evolved, the fleet has grown, and the competition has intensified. But the spirit at the heart of it the challenge, the camaraderie, and the call of open water has never changed.

 

As FIGAWI enters its sixth decade, BENETEAU remains one of the most recognized and active brands on the New England racing circuit. The strong turnout and competitive results in 2026 reinforce what BENETEAU owners already know: these are boats built for the moments that matter. For the races you'll talk about for years. For the finish lines you earn.

 

See you on the water.

 

Whether you're eyeing a podium finish or planning your first offshore passage, there's a BENETEAU built for where you want to go.

→ Explore the First Series — Built to Race
→ Explore the Oceanis Series — Built to Cruise, Capable of More
→ Find a BENETEAU Dealer Near You