Plans for the 2025 Flag Day Fautasi Race were announced by the Chairman of the Fautasi Committee Sen. Gaoteote Palaie at a meeting Tuesday with leaders of villages with fautasi and captains held at the Office of Samoan Affairs.
Gaoteote said the committee wants to ensure a safe and fair race, noting that more villages are fielding long boats for this year’s regatta, adding to the excitement of what is always the highlight of every Flag Day celebration.
According to the Committee Chairman the fautasi race will be 5 miles long. It’s planned for the morning of April 15 at 9am. If the weather is unfavorable the race will be moved to 2pm that day. If there’s no improvement in the weather by that time, the race will be moved to the next day, Wednesday, April 16 with a starting time of 9am.
If weather conditions are still unfavorable by the 9am starting time, the plan is to start the race at 12 pm, but the course will be shortened to 3 miles.
Committee Vice Chairman, Commissioner of Public Safety Taage Saite Moliga told KHJ News that there will be no preliminary heats, just one race.
