Today, the Department of Commerce is hosting the third annual DOC Ocean Challenge Fautasi Race, with monetary awards to the participants to go to cleaning our local coastal areas and village streams through the help of village aumaga.

During the qualifying heats held as part of the Veterans Day festivities, DOC — under the banner of Ocean Challenge Fautasi Qualifying Races — held two heats to determine the five boats to compete in the final race scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014.

The fautasi to compete in today’s final heat, based on their times, are: Vatia’s Fuao — 26 minutes and 58 seconds; Aua’s Paepaeulup’o’o — 28 minutes and 48 seconds; Fagasa’s Fealofani Samoa III — 30 minutes and 30 seconds; Fagaalu’s Fetu O Le Afiafi — 31 minutes and 56 seconds and and Nu’uuli’s Manulele Tausala #1 — 35 minutes and 59 seconds.

Samoa News understands that the Manulele Tausala #1 — the reigning champions of the 2014 Flag Day Fautasi Regatta will race, while #2 will not, although both of Nu’uuli’s boats are listed as finishing at the same time. However, according to unconfirmed comments from some Nu’uuli villagers, the Manulele Tausala #2 actually came in last, but in a show of fellowship and sportsmanship with their sister fautasi, the Manulele Tausala #1 slowed down to put them in a position to make their way together across the finish line.

The racecourse will be the same as that of the qualifying heat course, with the start from within Pago Pago Harbor, out to Utulei Beach, then turning around at the buoy, coming back to the starting point for the finish line. It will start at 12 noon, according to DOC officials.

PAEPAEULUPO’O — 28 minutes and 48 seconds

It ran the second fastest time, but won its heat, beating out the Fealofani by 2 minutes, and the Manulele Tausala #1 and #2 by 7 minutes and 11 seconds. The Fuao, which won it’s own heat, racing against Fetu O Le Afiafi, beat the Aua boat’s time by 1 minute and 48 seconds, which would probably translate as 1/4 of a boat length in layman terms.

What does this all mean?

In the past, the Paepaeulupo'o struggled to make their presence known in fautasi racing, but while the heart was there — the boat was just never up to “speed.”

But in this year’s Flag Day regatta, the high-tech newly minted Paepaeulupo'o II made its appearance giving new hope to the village of Aua that its reputation for finishing “last” was a thing of the past.

It came in a disappointing third in its maiden race, the 2014 Flag Day Regatta. Fautasi insiders point to the lack of an experienced captain and crew, but say the fautasi or long boat itself — is a thing of beauty — built to glide through the water like a creature born to the sea; of like nature to the Fuao in speed.

But, in last week’s qualifying heats, the Paepaeulupo'o II had a new skipper, but an old friend of the faigamea ile tai — Teioutaifeau Leonard Liufau. His history with Aua fautasi racing is long, including being a skipper of the old Paepaeulupo’o; however, he did not captain the fautasi in the 2014 Flag Day race, which could make all the difference in today’s race.

In his first appearance in the skipper’s seat of the Paepaeulupo'o II, Teioutaifeau and his crew took first place in their heat, earning them a chance to race again in today’s DOC Ocean Challenge Fautasi Race, but they did not race against the Fua’o.

All this could be a moot point though — don’t discount the weather. If it continues to rain, it is possible the new high-tech fautasi will suffer from less than ideal seas — allowing the deeper hull fautasi to ride the waters more smoothly, by taking in less water. On the hand, the race course is ‘in the harbor’, considered safe waters.

So, it should be an exciting race: And maybe… just maybe… Aua will celebrate its first faustasi win in memory.

Samoa News wishes all fautasi a safe sail.