According to the 2016 Flag Day Fautasi Committee, the race that was held yesterday at noon as the first heat in the qualifying races has now been disqualified and ruled as – “not a race” – by committee chairman Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga.
Group A which raced in the first heat was composed of: (1) Fealofani Samoa II; (2) Tama o le Muaau - Faleniu; (3) Aeto - Pago Pago (4) Iseulaolemoana III; (5) Fetu o le Afiafi - Fagaalu, (6) Taema II - Leone.
However, by the end of the heat – there were only 4 that actually raced.
The Fetu o le Afiafi – Fagaalu did not race at all, electing to not take on the swells, and never left their place of anchor; and the Aeto from Pago Pago wasn't able to cross the finish line, as they took on water and capsized before the race even started.
The results of the heat that is now disqualified were: the Fealofani Samoa III in first place, followed by the Iseula o le Moana III in second, Taema II in third, and the Tama o le Mua'au from Faleniu in fourth.
THE RACE
At the beginning of the race, Samoa News noticed all the other fautasi following the Aeto's path, heading outside the harbor toward the starting line – but before the Aeto could make it there, just outside of Matafao, they took on some major swells, which eventually led to the crew and the captain turning their boat over, and sitting on top of it, while awaiting help.
Not too long after that, the Taema II also began taking on some waves, as they made their way out to the starting point, leading to ‘pails’ being used to get water out of the boat. The Taema II, unlike the Aeto, was able to continue the race.
Confusion reigned as some of the captains, whose fautasi were already at the starting line began to move forward to the Aeto’s position, not realizing the Aeto was not taking a ‘starting position’ but had stopped due to taking on water rapidly. Eventually, all fautasi made their way to the Aeto’s position.
By the time all competing boats were in the Gataivai area, the race was given the sound of a whistle — not even a horn — and the race was on.
However, the Aeto was out of the race, and was by then waving for help from their fautasi.
With now with just four boats in the heat, the Tama o le Mua'au from Faleniu was spotted by Samoa News taking in water from the waves of a vessel that was near them – causing the captain and the crew to put a halt to their attempt to reach the finish line, trying to balance out their fautasi for the safety of their auva'a (crew).
For the three competing boats who survived the mayhem of the starting line, the Fealofani Samoa III from Fagasa took the lead near Utulei beach, all the way down to the finish line, as the Iseula o le Moana III held on by half a fautasi length to finish in second, and the Taema II finished in third by a fautasi length from Fagatogo's fautasi.
It was during preparations for the second heat that Samoa News received information from a reliable source that Nu'uuli had pulled out both of its Manulele Tausala fautasi from competing, in consideration of the safety of the crews – after seeing the Aeto and its crew taking on heavy swells just inside the harbor.
At the same time, the Paepaeulupo'o, Fuao, and Sinapioa made their way out to start the second heat – which was postponed then canceled for the day.
