After an absence of three years, the Samoan traditional ‘fautasi’ are back in the water.
The Teuila Festival 2020 will once again feature the fautasi regatta and crews are starting to prepare, although one captain says crews need more time to train.
TV1Samoa reports the internationally successful captain Vaimasenu’u Zita
Martel said crews will only have 5 weeks to train and for her crew more than 80 percent are new to the sport and lack experience.
Her longboat will be crewed by students from the Catholic run Don Bosco Technical College and has become the first one to be seen training in the Apia Harbor.
Other boats traditionally train in their own villages and only come to Apia at least a week before the races.
