The Flag Day Fautasi Race, which was scheduled for 9am, has been postponed to 2pm today.
Secretary of Samoan Affairs Faiivae Alex Godinet told KHJ News that after the committee checked the sea conditions from the 5-mile starting point, early this morning, they decided to postpone the race till 2pm because the seas were too rough.
The committee will be checking the conditions out in the harbor again at 10:30am and if the conditions haven’t changed, the race will be called off until tomorrow. If the conditions have improved, the race will start at 2pm.
Committee Chairman Sen. Gaoteote Palaie Tofau said while conditions in the harbor were calm, it was a different story out at sea, where they observed huge swells. he said safety was the main factor the committee considered.
If the race is held tomorrow, the starting time will be 9am, and it will be a five-mile race.
However, if the seas are still rough, the race will be moved to 12pm. The course will be shortened to 3 miles, and there will be two qualifying heats to pick the seven fautasi that will race in the finals.
The first heat will have 6 fautasi, and the second one will have 5 fautasi.
