Jet skis to play an important role in Fautasi Regatta

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The role of the SAR jet skis was explained during Tuesday’s meeting of the Fautasi Flag Day Committee where the guidelines and other details for the upcoming Flag Day Fautasi Regatta, set for Saturday, Apr .15, 2023 were discussed.

The goal of the guidelines and rules is to enforce the safety of participating auva’a and to ensure a fair tu’uga va'a for all seven competing fautasi.

The jet skis will play an important role in lining up the fautasi at the starting line and blowing horns that will start the race. Their rescue role of course is a given. It’s the first time jet skis have been formally mentioned as part of the set up for the Flag Day Regatta.

A recent article in Samoa News noted that 2 new jet skis were purchased for the price of $80,000 each. SAR jet skis were seen ‘practicing’ yesterday afternoon in Pago harbor in anticipation of the fautasi race.

SAR jet skis were specially developed for rescue missions and offer high performance in the surf, white water, along rocky coasts and in floods.