After weeks of training, the highly anticipated return of the fautasi regatta at this year's Teuila Festival has been cancelled.

The announcement was made by Segavao Don Bosco’s skipper, Vaimasenu'u Zita Martel.

Vaimasenu’u spoke on behalf of their Segavao Don Bosco longboat crew, teachers, parents and Salesian order.

“I wish to extend to you all our sincere appreciation and deep gratitude for your love, support, kindness shown and expressed to us from you, our social tribe,” she said in a social media post. 

She added that she had received overwhelming private messages of support from their tribe around the world.

“[We have] deep gratitude for your love, support, kindness shown and expressed to us from you: our social tribe.

“I've received overwhelming private messages from our tribe around the world, on what time I'll be going live from our longboat training.”

The Segavao skipper also added that breaking the sad news to her crew who had taken up the challenge wholeheartedly was a highly emotional meeting.

“This is also the first year we have [had] girls on the longboat team [after] Don Bosco enrolled girls into the college for the first time this year,” she said. 

“I didn't have the heart to talk about it publicly yesterday [Thursday] as I wanted to give my crew 24 hours to process the sad news.

“In [the] times of uncertainty that we live in now, even though Samoa is COVID-19 free, nothing is certain anymore.”

“We now live in a time where tomorrow can be drastically different from today.”

“That we are richer for having shared in the experiences that are superbly unique and sacred to our ‘Fautasi.’

“And most importantly, we offered our prayer of thanks for all our families, friends and tribe who have shown us so much love since we started our training.”

In a previous interview, Vaimasenu’u said that they have been practising for two weeks with 86 rowers who were students of Don Bosco including five females who were to participate for the first time.

The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, earlier confirmed the Government’s plan for Samoa’s biggest annual cultural festival which is normally held early September to be broadcasted online.

He said they have been forced to use the country’s digital television platform to broadcast the event due to state of emergency restrictions.

“It will operate similarly to how the [Independence Day celebration was] run,” he said.