Figawi and me
Lucretia Voigt shares ideas for involving your little sailors this weekend
BY LUCRETIA VOIGT INDEPENDENT CONTRIBUTOR
Figawi is upon us, and for those of you who don't have a dictionary handy, the word "figawi" comes from the Vikings, and means drunken debauchery.

The Figawi Race Weekend is never billed as a "family affair." However, most kids like boats, so there are ways to turn it into one.

The Figawi Race sets sail from Hyannis Yacht Club at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Depending on the weather, boats can appear on the horizon around 1 p.m.

You can begin your boating adventure by treating the family to a wonderful lunch at Something Natural, 50 Cliff Road. (If you are coming from downtown, take Easton Street to Cliff Road, and you will see Something Natural on the left.)

The food at Something Natural is delicious, but even more important for parents, the lawn is better than any McDonald's Playplace. Bring a blanket, spread it on the grass, and you have instant picnic. Bring some boat books to set the mood. Two wonderful books appropriate for toddlers to pre-school age are "Boats," a board book by Byron Barton, and "Busy Boats" by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker. How can a kid's book by an author whose name is "Ant" be anything but spectacular?

My son can spend hours in the boat in the yard of Something Natural, pretending he is the captain of his own yacht. There are usually other kids running around, so it ends up being an unorganized but highly fun playdate.

Adjacent to the lawn is conservation area that is home to a lively hawk. Our last visit netted us a rare glimpse of this hawk in action, and we got to have that "circle of life" discussion.

After lunch, it's big boat time!

Agreat place to see the Figawi action is from the beach by Brant Point Lighthouse. Park on North Water Street or Easton Street and take the stroller - since parking at the Lighthouse is minimal, and (if you obey all traffic laws) restricted.

Beach toys will make the wait a fun beach adventure, and if you plan ahead, your child can launch their own new boat.

Since Figawi is a sailboat race, here's an easy sailboat craft that all ages can make.

The supplies you will need are simple: a wide plastic lid (like a margarine lid); a drinking straw; construction or card stock paper; a hole punch and a small wad of Playdough or clay.

Cut a right triangle from the construction paper to make your sail. For the geometry-challenged among us, it's the triangle with a corner that makes an "L." Let your child decorate the sail with crayons, markers, stickers - anything that will personalize it.

Punch three holes along the long straight edge of the sail, and weave the drinking straw, now known as the boat's mast, through the holes.

Put a small wad of molding clay or Playdough on the inside of the lid. Push the end of the drinking straw into the clay. A boatmaker is born!

Make several of these, and then take them to the beach while you await the Figawi racers. Let your child wade into the water, launch their boats, and watch how the wind and tide move them. This is a parent-at-attention activity, so keep one eye on your child and the other on the boat.

If the Figawi boats are slow in making it to Nantucket, you can always take your kid to either Straight Wharf or Commercial Wharf. At this time of the year, there are always big boats that will keep your child mesmerized.

If you child is over the age of 7, and the sailboats spark his interest, consider signing him or her up for sailing classes this summer at Nantucket Community Sailing. You can contact them at 228- 6212, or go to their Web site, nantucketsailing.com,

for a list of classes. I