This year, the Department of Commerce is coordinating their third annual DOC Ocean Challenge Fautasi Race to promote the cleaning of our local beaches through the help of village aumaga — with the sport of fautasi racing. The monetary awards the participants will receive are focused on funding to help clean up their village streams and coastal areas.

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 which will compete in the final race scheduled for this coming Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014.

Currently, the fautasi to compete in the final heat, based on their times, are: Fuao — 26 minutes and 58 seconds; Paepaeulup’o’o — 28 minutes and 48 seconds; Fealofani Samoa III — 30 minutes and 30 seconds; Fetu O Le Afiafi — 31 minutes and 56 seconds and Manulele Tausala #1 & Manulele Tausala #2 — 35 minutes and 59 seconds.

While it had been up in the air about whether or not both Manulele from the village of Nu’uuli would be racing, Samoa News has learned from village rowers that the Manulele Tausala I, will be the one racing, not #2.

There is no official word to date from the DOC committee for the race, however, as it stands, there will be only five competitors in the upcoming race — with the fautasi of the villages of Nu’uuli and Fagasa joining  Vatia, Aua and Fagaalu in the final heat.

The Manulele Tausala I from Nu’uuli is the reigning champion of the 2014-15 Flag Day Fautasi Race and is said to be ready to compete. It is under the leadership of a new captain, it doesn’t have the same skipper it did for its Flag Day race, Mautafea. Leading the Manulele Tausala I now, is a new skipper – first time captain — So’oa’emalelagi.

Leading the Fealofani Samoa III is captain Lupefa’alele Faima, who has skippered the high tech fautasi from Fagasa throughout the past Flag Day races.  During the qualifying race on Veterans Day, Faima led his crew to coming in 2nd place in the first heat of the DOC qualifiers.

Of interest, the Fealofani Samoa III for Fagasa is a high tech boat, and joins its sister fautasi Fuao and Paepaeulupo’o with the seeming advantage that the Manulele Tausala I, the Fetu O Le Afiafi does not have: a stern made for quick turns and the ability to skim over the water when in full rowing mode.

Again — many are betting on captain and crew — and as the Manulele Tausala I proved in the Flag Day race, beating her hi-tech competitors out of the water, with sheer will power and ‘want’ — it’s all doable!

There is however the race course — which many faustasi insiders are saying is the deciding factor for this week’s race. It is the shorter one, inside the harbor — and the hi-techs will have the advantage.

But as Fagaitua High School Vikings just proved in last Saturday’s ASHSAA football championship game — “On any given Sunday…” anyone can win.