The Flag Day Fautasi Race Committee announced the official results of the 2024 Flag Day Fautasi Race at an awards presentation at the Tufele Liamatua Center at Suigaula, just after 11 this morning.
1. Manulele Tausala #1 is the 2024 champion – $25,000 and the Lealaifuena Peter Reid Jr. Cup, including a $10,000 donation from Samoa Motors. 
2. Paepaeulupoo – $21,000
3. Fealofani Samoa – $18,000
4. Matausaua – $16,000
5. Aeto – $14,000
6. Fuao – $12,000
7. Iseulaolemoana – $10,000
8. Lupelele – $8,000
9. Manulele Tausala #2 – $6,000
Our recap of the race based on the eye witness account of our commentators Doug Fuimaono and Faafetai Loli.
The horns of the Manuatele and tugboat sounded as all the fautasi had taken their lanes. They said there was no one fautasi that was way ahead of the others. Though the race was set to start at 9am, the horn actually sounded at 8:20am.
The Manulele Tausala and Paepaeulupoo were neck and neck for most of the 5 mile course, and there was only one point when the Manulele was about one fautasi ahead of the Paepaeulupoo.
Paepaeulupoo never relented and dug in deep as the two long boats made for the finish line.
And it was Captain Taufetee Manutafea and his crew on the Manulele Tausala #1 that crossed the finish line in front of ASCO Motors in Pago Pago first, just one or 2 seats ahead of Captain Utaifeau Leonard Sonoma and his Paepaeulupoo crew.
The Matasaua had been in 3rd place halfway through the race, however, in a brilliant show of strength, Fealofani caught up and left the Matasaua behind as it slid into 3rd place, just a few seats behind Paepaeulupoo.
