Last Friday, fautasi captains and village representatives gathered at the Office of Samoan Affairs for a meeting to discuss the upcoming Flag Day 2015 fautasi regatta.

There, OSA officials were asked to reduce the proposed $1,000 entry fee, with captains and village officials pointing out that thousands of dollars already go into building the long boats and maintaining them, in addition to other expenditures related to preparations for the Flag Day race.

Samoa News was not able to obtain comments from OSA officials Lualemaga Faoa or Tuiagamoa Tavai to confirm or deny the rumors that the entry fee has been dropped to $300 per boat.

Meanwhile, Samoa News spoke to several people who had mixed feelings about the situation.

The majority of the people said the $1,000 entry fee is fair, considering the prize money is upwards of $10,000 while a handful of people argued that the prize money is never anywhere near what each village pays to get a fautasi built and maintained.

This year, a new village has joined the fautasi scene.

Rowers from the village of Leone have been training using the Fagatogo faustasi, while awaiting their own long boat to be completed. It’s unknown at this time if their new fautasi will be ready for the big race next month, but the captain and crew will certainly be ready to hit the water.